OKLAHOMA CITY – The No. 6-ranked (NAIA D-II) College of the Ozarks Lady Bobcats rallied from a 21-point deficit to defeat the Mid-America Christian University Lady Evangels 77-74 tonight (Dec. 8) inside the Gaulke Activity Center.
The Lady Evangels appeared to be in control with a 72-58 lead at the 4:07 mark of the fourth quarter, but that's the point where the Lady Bobcats surged back.
College of the Ozarks would score the next 17 points, starting with three straight treys from Cassidy Johnson to suddenly make it a five-point game at the 2:40 mark.
The charge was culminated with a score from Hannah Wisdom that gave the Lady Bobcats a 73-72 lead with 15 seconds remaining, their first edge since there was 8:09 left in the second quarter.
MACU then turned it over on its next two possessions that led to a pair of free throws each by Kelsie Cleeton and Shelby Roberts to put it away.
The Lady Evangels started the third quarter strong, outscoring the Lady Bobcats 13-3 during the first four minutes of the period to stretch a seven-point halftime lead into a 50-33 advantage.
After MACU increased the lead to a game-high 21 points just over a minute later, the Lady Bobcats finished the quarter on a 10-3 run to come within 60-46 heading into the fourth.
In a hotly contested first half that featured seven ties, the Lady Evangels gained some separation with a 7-0 spurt late in the second period that increased a two-point edge into a nine-point lead with 1:01 left.
The Lady Bobcats then scored with five tenths of a second remaining and the Lady Evangels carried a 37-30 lead into the break.
Sarai Rodriguez led the Lady Evangels (10-2) with 23 points along with a game-high six assists. Mikki Flores scored 20 and D'Shala Powell added 10 points and a team-high nine rebounds.
Johnson also scored 23 points and had a team-best nine boards for the Lady Bobcats (11-2), with Wisdom and Maggie McMenamy each contributing 12 points.
This is already the Lady Bobcats' fourth win over a Sooner Athletic Conference member this season, including a sweep of No. 20-ranked John Brown University.
The Lady Evangels will next play an exhibition contest Saturday afternoon (Dec. 10) at the University of Central Oklahoma, an NCAA D-II school in Edmond, Okla. Tip-off is set for 1:30 pm.
