Box Score (xml)
WEATHERFORD, Okla. – SWOSU took a quarter to defrost, but
Jessica Penner got going in the final three frames with perfect 9-of-9 shooting from the field. The Lady Bulldogs closed out 2015 with a 77-75 victory over in-state rival Northeastern State.
The Lady Bulldogs took a quick 4-0 lead thanks to layups by
Janae Coffee and
Jade Jones. However, the RiverHawks responded quickly with an 8-0 run highlighted by back-to-back three-pointers. SWOSU kept it close as
Hailey Tucker accounted for five points, including her first make of the game from long range, but Northeastern State closed out the first frame scoring five of the final seven points for a 30-19 advantage after shooting 66.7 percent from beyond the arc.
Despite an 11-point deficit, the Lady Dawgs fought their way back into the game in the second quarter. After trading baskets over the first four minutes, NSU led 36-25. SWOSU then opened up a 12-0 run over the final 6:11 of play, punctuated by Tucker's second trey as
Hayden Priddy handed out two assists over the run that led to five points. With a final put-back lay in by Coffee with 26 seconds in the half, SWOSU carried a slim 37-36 advantage into the locker room.
Penner ripped off six straight points midway through the third quarter as SWOSU ballooned their lead to 50-41 with 5:28 to go. SWOSU saw their lead dwindle to two points at 52-50, but a pair of makes from the charity stripe by
Jennifer Williams gave the Lady Dawgs' back a two-possession lead. Following a layup by Williams with 46 seconds to go, SWOSU went into the final period up 59-55.
SWOSU continued to keep the RiverHawks at a distance for much of the final frame as freshmen Priddy and Tucker combined for back-to-back three-pointers. Unfortunately, the Lady Bulldogs went cold over the next over the next three minutes, allowing NSU to pull within 72-70 with 2:43 to go. Jones scored SWOSU's three final points, and a last second long-range effort by Northeastern State gave SWOSU their third win in a row.
"We've been waiting for Penner to breakout and she definitely did tonight," said SWOSU Head Coach
Kelsi Musick. "As a team, we did better after the first quarter, but will need to continue playing our game better as we head into 2016. For now, it's great to close out 2015 on a three-game winning streak."
Penner led the team with 19 points, and Tucker and Priddy also reached double figures with 17 and 11 points respectively. On the boards, SWOSU outrebounded NSU 47-41, including a game-high 11 by Korina Champman. Jones had eight rebounds and Coffee had seven, including five on the offensive glass.
The Lady Bulldogs open up 2016 with a home game against the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma on Saturday, January 2 at 1 pm.
