From OCU Sports Info.
Richard Torterelli, Assistant Athletic Director for Communication
OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City University notched its 16th consecutive 20-win season with a 67-47 victory over Mid-America Christian on Thursday at the Gaulke Activity Center.
Yvonte Neal, a junior from Spring Valley, Calif., provided the Stars with 16 points, four rebounds and three assists. OCU, ranked fifth in NAIA Division I women’s basketball, moved to 20-3, 17-2 in the Sooner Athletic Conference.
Ouleymatou Coulibaly, a junior from Bamako, Mali, West Africa, produced 10 points, five rebounds and two assists, and Autumn Huffman, a senior from Midwest City, Okla., picked up 10 points while going 4-for-4 from the field and 2-for-2 from the free-throw line for OCU.
The Stars’ Autumn Lau added nine points and four rebounds, and Cara Pugh contributed seven rebounds and four rebounds. Kayla MacKenzie reeled in six points, five rebounds, five assists and two steals, while Markeisha Johnson pocketed team highs in rebounding (nine) and steals (three).
Mid-America Christian (17-11, 11-8 SAC) scuffled to 25.9 percent shooting from the floor at 14-for-54 on the night. Mid-America committed 18 turnovers.
“I was proud of our team defense,” OCU coach Latricia Trammell said. “It’s tough to hold a good team to 47 points. We collected six charge and just made it tough for them to execute. I thought defensively Markeisha really did some nice things to disrupt their offense.”
Oklahoma City seized the lead by recording an 11-0 run late in the first half. Coulibaly’s jumper in the lane broke a 20-20 tie. Coulibaly added another bucket, then Lau had a 3-point play. Albany Anderson canned free throws to put OCU in front 29-20 at the 6:13 mark of the first period.
The Stars held Mid-America without a point for 6:01 between the first and second halves, including the final 2:23 of the first. OCU went on a 14-0 run to build a 47-27 advantage.
MacKenzie had four points during the Stars’ 9-0 run that created a 60-32 cushion, OCU’s largest of the game.
OCU squares off with sixth-rated Oklahoma Baptist at 3 p.m. Saturday at Abe Lemons Arena with the regular-season conference championship at stake.