Women's Basketball 1/28/2008 12:00:00 AM

Golden Eagles Fight Back to Defeat UMKC, 67-63

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - After flight delays, lost luggage and numerous hours spent at a variety of airports, somehow the Oral Roberts' women's basketball team (11-9, 5-4 Summit League) dug down deep and found the energy to defeat the UMKC Kangaroos 67-63.

Junior Mariana Camargo came out hot in the second half, scoring 18 points and grabbing seven boards. Junior Rachel Watman paced ORU the entire game, posting 16 points and six boards. Sophomore Janae Voelker put up 10 points and seven rebounds for the Golden Eagles.

Freshman Leanne Robison had a stellar game in the big win with nine points and 12 boards for ORU.

UMKC (9-11, 2-7 Summit League) was led by Chazny Morris and Alysa Klein with 21 and 20 points respectively. Klein was near her career-high of seven blocks with six on the night.

As a team, ORU was able to grab 49 boards to UMKC's 33. The Golden Eagles held the Kangaroos to two fast-break points, while ORU jumped out to 10 quick points.

Both teams would trade points early in the game and the Golden Eagles would get some help from the referee's with back-to-back charging fouls on UMKC's point guard, Sierra Radke. Rachel Watman came out on fire in the first five minutes, scoring seven points for the Golden Eagles, helping ORU open a six-point lead with 13 minutes left in the first half.

The Kangaroos' Chazny Morris would start to find the basket, scoring five of UMKC's last seven points to get within three of ORU, 16-13. But with two-straight jumpers by Mariana Camargo, the Golden Eagles jumped back out to a seven-point lead at the 10:11 mark.

Senior Alysa Klein was able to get the 'Roos right back in the mix, drawing back-to-back fouls to put six-points on the board, 22-19. They would continue that with a 9-0 run capped by a Brittany Piccori three to give UMKC the momentum, trailing by only one with 5:40 left.

With 1:18 left in the first half, the 'Roos Chazny Morris nailed a trey from the top of the key to take the two-point lead, their first lead since the 19:19 mark. UMKC would go on a 4-0 run to end the half, taking the 37-33 lead into the break.

The Golden Eagles were held to only three points in the first five minutes of the second half, while UMKC spit out three baskets to take the 43-36 lead. Leanne Robison would dig ORU out of its shooting slump with three-straight free-throws to get within five of the 'Roos. The Golden Eagles would continue that with an 8-0 run to regain the lead, 44-43, and the momentum with 12:25 left in the second half.

After holding the Kangaroos scoreless for five minutes, back the lead would go to the host team after a Chazny Morris three would give the the 'Roos the two-point lead. The lead would be traded back and forth eight times over the next eight minutes before ORU would take a four-point lead with 2:33 left in the game.

The Golden Eagles would hold tough down the stretch, though Chazy Morris's three-pointer at the 41-second mark would close ORU's lead to two. Rachel Watman would get fouled with 11 seconds left, but would miss both free-throws, but a huge rebound by Mariana Camargo and back-to-back free-throws by Janae Voelker would seal the deal for the Golden Eagles, winning 67-63.

ORU will have a nice break this weekend with only one game on Saturday in Tulsa against the Centenary Ladies at 2:05 p.m.

-ORU-

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Players Mentioned

#11 Janae Voelker: G/F; 6' 0"; Redshirt; Newton HS

#1 Mariana Camargo: G; 5' 11"; Junior; Colegio Sagrada Familia

#25 Leanne Robison: G; 6' 0"; Redshirt; Community RV-I HS

#5 Rachel Watman: G; 5' 8"; Junior; Endeavour Sports HS

Players Mentioned

#11 Janae Voelker
: 6' 0"; Redshirt; Newton HS
: G/F

#1 Mariana Camargo
: 5' 11"; Junior; Colegio Sagrada Familia
: G

#25 Leanne Robison
: 6' 0"; Redshirt; Community RV-I HS
: G

#5 Rachel Watman
: 5' 8"; Junior; Endeavour Sports HS
: G