February 28th, 2019
OKLAHOMA CITY- UAFS extended its winning streak to a season-long three games on Thursday night as the Lady Lions beat the Oklahoma Christian Lady Eagles 85-73 in Heartland Conference play at the Eagles Nest in Oklahoma City.
It was the second conference series sweep for UAFS (10-16, 7-6), which also swept Texas A&M International. UAFS, which beat Oklahoma Christian on Jan. 9 at the Stubblefield Center, was coming off consecutive wins against Texas A&M International and St. Mary’s in its final home stand of the season this past weekend at the Stubblefield Center.
UAFS will play Newman at 1 p.m. on Saturday in the regular-season finale at Fugate Gymnasium before setting its sights on the Heartland Conference Tournament. All eight conference teams have qualified for the conference tournament, which begins on Thursday at the Union Multipurpose Activity Center in Tulsa, Okla.
No. 25 Lubbock Christian (22-5, 12-1) won the regular-season conference title and will be the No. 1 seed in the tournament. Lubbock Christian will play No. 8 seed Texas A&M International (0-25, 0-13) in the first round at 5 p.m. on Thursday. Newman finished second in the regular season and will be the No. 2 seed. The Jets will play the No. 7 seed in the first round at noon on Thursday.
The remaining spots – the Nos. 3-7 seeds – won’t be decided until after Saturday’s final conference games.
St. Edward’s (15-12, 7-6) and UAFS (10-16, 7-6) are tied for third and split their regular-season games, St. Mary’s (16-9, 6-7) and Rogers State (13-13, 6-7) are tied for fifth and split their regular-season games and Oklahoma Christian (12-14, 5-8) is seventh.
Lubbock Christian will host St. Edward’s on Saturday, while Newman will host UAFS, Texas A&M International will host St. Mary’s and Oklahoma Christian will host Rogers State.
Conference tournament single-day tickets will be available for purchase at the UMAC box office for $15 for adults and $7 for students with a valid student I.D. Military personnel, with military identification, and children age 5 and under will be admitted free of charge. Tournament passes, which are good for all 14 games, will be $40. Ticket and tournament pass purchases at the UMAC box office are cash only.
UAFS shot 46 percent from the field (31 of 67) – it was 4-of-9 shooting from 3-point range – and shot 83 percent from the free-throw line (19 of 23). Five Lady Lions scored in double-figures.
Senior forward Ellie Lehne had a team-high 20 points, while freshman Anna Bonham had 15, including all four of the Lady Lions’ 3-pointers. Senior guard Daijah Brown had 14 points, while junior guard Alexsis Brown and junior forward Tamera Gulley had 11 points apiece.
Gulley posted her team-leading fifth double-double, finishing with a team-high 10 rebounds to help the Lady Lions out-rebound the Lady Eagles by eight rebounds (44-36). UAFS had 14 offensive rebounds that led to 14 second-chance points.
UAFS, which led by as many as 25 points, held Oklahoma Christian to just 38 percent shooting from the field (23 of 61) – the Lady Eagles were 7-of-29 shooting from 3-point range – and the Lady Eagles shot only 65 percent from the free-throw line (20 of 31).
Oklahoma Christian committed 19 turnovers that led to 28 points for the UAFS.
Sophomore forward Katie Mayo led the Lady Eagles with 16 points, while senior guard Addy Clift, who was averaging 27 points per game, was held to just 15 points. Sophomore guard Madison Collyer had 15 points, too, and sophomore guard Tyra Peck had 11 points and a team-high six rebounds.
WOMEN
HEARTLAND CONFERENCE
UAFS 85, OKLAHOMA CHRISTIAN 73
UAFS 23 25 20 17 — 85
Oklahoma Christian 11 17 25 20 — 73
UAFS (10-16, 7-6): Lehne 20, Bonham 15, D. Brown 14, Gulley 11, A. Brown 11, Richardson 6, Terry 4, Nelson 2, Green 2
Oklahoma Christian (12-14, 5-8): Mayo 16, Clift 15, Collyer 15, Peck 11, Bentsen 8, Bell 3, Levings 3, Lawley 2
Story: UAFS Athletics
