SHREVEPORT, La. �€" The Oral Roberts University
women's basketball team jumped out to an early 17-5 lead before
cruising to a 72-50 win over Centenary in front of 325 Monday night
at the Gold Dome. The Golden Eagles now bump their record to 10-9
overall and 4-4 in Mid-Con play.
Elisha Turek (Council Bluffs, Iowa) led all
players with 19 points and nine rebounds, as she shot 7-of-12 from
the field and a perfect 5-of-5 from the free throw line. She also
added two steals and a block in 27 minutes of action.
The game was tied 5-5 early on, but ORU responded with a 12-0 spurt
that put them up 17-5 just over six minutes into the game. A pair
of Jenny Hardin (Claremore, Okla.) free throws,
followed by a Hardin lay-in, extended the Golden Eagles lead to 19
points, 28-9, with 6:03 to play before the half.
Hardin finished the game with nine points, four rebounds, and three
assists.
ORU led 34-17 at the half, as they hit 46.4 percent of their shots
and turned eight offensive rebounds into 10 second chance
points.
The Golden Eagle defense put a clamp down on the Ladies (3-18, 2-8)
during the first half, limiting them to just two points over an
eight minute stretch. Centenary shot just 29.2 percent from the
floor in the first stanza, including just 20.0 percent from behind
the three-point line.
ORU started the second half just like the left off the first, as
they scored the first seven points after the break to increase
their lead to 24 points, 41-17. A steal and lay-in by Sarah
Davidson (New South Wales, Australia) gave the visitors
their largest lead at 55-27 as they put it on cruise from their for
the 72-50 win.
The Golden Eagles finished the night shooting 48.1 percent from the
floor while the Ladies connected on just 32.1 percent of their
attempts. ORU forced 18 Centenary turnovers, turning them into an
extra 25 points.
Rachel Watman (Sydney, Australia) added 11 points
for ORU, while Leah Cannon (Adelaide, Australia)
added 10 points, two rebounds, and two assists.
Holli Wilkins led the home squad with 11 points and Jelena Aleksic
added added 10 points, nine boards, and four assists.
The Golden Eagles will return home for their next two contests,
beginning with a match up against Chicago State at 2:05 p.m. on
Saturday.
--ORU--
