LEAVENWORTH, Kan. — Ottawa University controlled the opening 20 minutes Wednesday night inside the Ryan Sports Center, but University of Saint Mary used a dominant second-half run to pull away for a 79-68 victory.
Ottawa led by as many as seven in the first half and took a 41-37 advantage into the break before Saint Mary flipped the momentum with a 42-point second half to secure the season sweep.
First Half
The Braves came out aggressive on both ends, forcing early turnovers and knocking down perimeter shots to seize control.
Adam Barbieri drilled a pair of early three-pointers, and
Jackson Harding added a triple as Ottawa built a 14-7 lead midway through the opening half.
Landyn Tyler and
Elijah Mason led the offensive charge, combining for 28 first-half points. Tyler capped the half with a strong finish in the paint in the closing seconds to give Ottawa a four-point edge at intermission.
Second Half
Saint Mary responded immediately after halftime, attacking inside and getting to the free-throw line. A 17-8 run over the first eight minutes flipped the deficit into a multi-possession lead.
Jordan Brown caught fire from deep and in transition, while Kaeden Bonner added timely perimeter shooting. The Spires steadily built their lead to double digits and extended it to 16 points with 5:26 remaining.
Ottawa continued to battle behind Mason's interior scoring and Martelly's energy off the bench, trimming the margin to seven with 1:28 left. However, Saint Mary iced the game at the free-throw line down the stretch.
By the Numbers (Ottawa Emphasis)
- Landyn Tyler – 14 points, 4 assists
- Elijah Mason – 14 points, 9 rebounds
- Jackson Harding – 8 points, game-high 13 rebounds
- Rich Martelly – 13 points off the bench
- Ottawa shot 50.0% (28-56) from the field
- 6-of-16 (37.5%) from three-point range
- 33 total rebounds (31 defensive)
Who is Next
Ottawa (10-17, 6-15) returns to the court on Saturday, February 21 in Wilson Field House against Kansas Wesleyan University. The game is scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m.
