TULSA, Okla. – The second-ranked Oklahoma City University women’s basketball team tasted defeat for the second time of the season after dropping a 73-70 contest to Rogers State at the Reynolds Center on the campus of the University of Tulsa on Saturday.
The Stars (19-2, 14-2) were led by Taylor Booze, a junior from Duncanville, Texas, who put in 16 points, including a 3-pointer as time expired.
Donica Cosby, a senior from Coldwater, Miss., added 13 points, three rebounds, three assists and two blocks, but could only find the basket on 20 percent of her 15 shot attempts. Starr Fairbanks, a senior from Cincinnati, chipped in 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting and pulled down four rebounds for OCU in the loss.
The Hillcats had four scorers in double-digits and got a season-high tying 24 points from Angie Criner to lead Rogers State to victory. With the win the Hillcats improved to 16-7, 10-6 in the Sooner Athletic Conference.
The Stars held a six-point halftime advantage, but allowed the Hillcats to start the second half of action with the first three baskets of the half to tie the game at 36-36 with 18:14 remaining. The score was at a deadlock again at 44-44 with 14:48 to play after a Criner bucket from the paint that sparked the Hillcats.
Rogers State rolled off a 10-1 run to get their largest lead of the night at 54-45. The Stars battled back for the 11th tie of the game with 6:37 to play after a free throw by Emily Davis evened the score at 62-62 with 6:37 to play. However, OCU missed eight of its ten shot attempts after the tie and could never regain any offensive momentum down the stretch.
The Stars shot 39.1 percent from the field while allowing Rogers State to make 46.8 percent of its attempts. The Hillcats held a 40-36 rebounding edge and forced the Stars into 17 turnovers, including 12 stolen balls.
OCU returns home for a Valentine’s Day matchup with John Brown (Ark.) on Monday at 6 p.m., at Abe Lemons Arena
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