Lady Lions Clip Eagles, Halt Skid

Courtesy UAFS Athletics Department

Aside from senior forward Katie BenAmor and junior post Angi Ramey, the UAFS Lady Lions have been struggling to score during their recent, uncharacteristic losing streak.

BenAmor and Ramey delivered again on Saturday against Oklahoma Christian, but this time, they had some help in carrying the scoring load for the youthful Lady Lions.

Five players scored in double-figures for UAFS as the Lady Lions held on to beat the Lady Eagles 73-69 in nonconference play at the Payne Athletic Center in Oklahoma City. It was the first-ever meeting between UAFS and Oklahoma Christian, which is a new member of the Heartland Conference but a provisional member of NCAA Division II.

Most importantly, the Lady Lions (4-9) snapped a five-game losing streak, posting their first win since beating Evangel University 63-53 on Dec. 12 at Alma (Ark.) High School’s Charles B. Dyer Arena.

BenAmor and Ramey each had 13 points to lead UAFS, which shot 42 percent from the field (25 for 59). Senior post Porsha Donnerson, freshman guard Candice Followwell and freshman guard Danielle McFadden had 12 points apiece.

UAFS held Oklahoma Christian, which was playing without leading scorer Katy O’Steen, to just 32-percent shooting from the field (22 for 69). The Lady Eagles, however, scorched the nets from the perimeter, making 13 of their 41 3-point shots.

Sophomore guard Kaitlyn Morris and junior guard Krista Stevens had 17 and 15 points, respectively, to lead the Lady Eagles (8-7), who had won four games in a row.

Oklahoma Christian out-rebounded the UAFS by 4 rebounds (48-44). Ramey and Donnerson had 8 rebounds apiece for UAFS, while junior center Roz Hamilton had 9 rebounds to lead Oklahoma Christian.

After a slow start, UAFS led 33-31 at halftime and maintained its lead for the first 10 minutes of the second half. Morris drained a 3-pointer to tie the game at 50 points with 10:17 to play and buried another trey to give the Lady Eagles the lead (53-50) with 9:56 left in the game.

Oklahoma Christian extended its lead to 7 points (62-55) on a free throw by freshman forward Aisha Martin with 5:27 left, but UAFS rallied from there, outscoring Oklahoma Christian 11-4 over the next 4 minutes.

McFadden made a 3-pointer to tie the game at 66 points with 1:50 left, and freshman guard Brittany Holbert hit the first of two free throws to put UAFS in the lead with 1:42 to play. Stevens hit the second of two free throws to tie the game one final time at 67 points with 31 seconds left.

Ramey scored on a jumper to give UAFS a 2-point lead with 12 seconds left, and McFadden made two free throws with 10 seconds left to make it a 4-point game. Oklahoma Christian got within 2 points on a pair of free throws by Morris with 4 seconds left, but BenAmor sealed the game for UAFS with a pair of free throws with 3 seconds left.

UAFS will return to Heartland Conference play at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday when its hosts St. Mary’s University at the Stubblefield Center.