From OBU Sports Information
Shawnee – Jalissa Council scored a career-best 21 points and led Oklahoma Baptist past Mid-America Christian 63-57 Saturday in the Noble Complex.
The win pushed the Lady Bison into a tie for fourth place in the Sooner Athletic Conference women’s basketball standings.
Council was 10 of 11 from the field and also had a team-best eight rebounds to pace OBU to a third win in its last four games.
“I worked hard for good position and the guards did a good job of getting the ball to me,” said Council, who came off the bench and played 23 minutes.
“She played like she wanted it,” said Coach Casi Bays. “We had great passing today and really good rebounding.”
Allie Brandenburg hit a three-pointer to open the game and the Lady Bison got quickly out to a nine-point lead. OBU led by a 33-23 count with 3:49 left in the first half when Lilia Inoubli, Charity Fowler and Council scored two points each in a 6-1 run.
OBU led 37-31 at halftime.
MACU slowly trimmed the lead and took a 46-45 advantage midway through the second half. The Lady Evangels had a 50-49 lead with 7:51 to go before Council scored inside to give OBU the lead for good with 7:30 to go.
The Lady Bison still had just a one-point lead with 5:07 left but Janell Beacham and Diamond Austin scored on back-to-back trips for a 59-54 lead with 3:40 to play. MACU never got the game closer than four points from there.
Along with Council’s 21, the Lady Bison got 13 points apiece from Brandenburg and Beacham. Brandenburg and Fowler had three assists each with Brandenburg getting four steals.
Now 11-8 overall and 4-4 in the SAC, the Lady Bison play at St. Gregory’s at 6 p.m., Thursday.
Ray Fink is the Sports Information Director at Oklahoma Baptist University.