Luper Scores 44 as ORU Drops La Salle, 76-55

TULSA - Freshman Kevi Luper scored a Summit League single-game record 44 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to lead the Oral Roberts University women's basketball team past La Salle by a score of 76-55 on Friday at the Mabee Center. The Golden Eagles improved to 2-1 overall, while the Explorers fell to 1-2 on the season.

Luper scored the second-most points in ORU history behind Stacy William's 50-point effort in 1990. The 44 points were the most scored at ORU since Williams tallied 41 in 1989.

The Strang, Okla., native went a school-record 19-of-25 from the field, while going 3-of-6 from three-point range and 3-of-3 from the free-throw line.

Janae Voelker (Newton, Kan.) secured her 23rd-career double-double and extended her double-figure scoring streak to 43 consecutive games with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Jaci Bigham (McAlester, Okla.) chipped in 11 points, while Dominique Allen (Birmingham, England) and Jordan Pyle (Mustang, Okla.) each pulled down eight rebounds.

The contest was back-and-forth through the first 30 minutes. Trailing by three points with 13 minutes remaining, Luper secured a three-point play, and after a made field goal by La Salle, pulled off another three-point play to put the Golden Eagles up by a point.

With the game tied at 51 with 9:31 remaining, the Golden Eagles put together a 20-2 run, including 10 points from Luper. After Voelker made two free throws to put ORU ahead 53-51, Georgia Jones (Manchester, England), Voelker and Luper all hit consecutive treys to bust the game open.

Luper scored the opening nine points for ORU, and 17 of the team's 21 points to put the Golden Eagles ahead 21-16 early in the opening half.

The Golden Eagles shot 43 percent from the field (28-of-65), while holding the Explorers to 32 percent (18-of-56). ORU shot 88 percent (14-of-16) from the charity stripe.

Ashley Gale led La Salle with 13 points, while Jamie Walsh chipped in 10 points and Morgan Robertson added nine points and 10 rebounds.

ORU returns to action on Nov. 28 at Houston Baptist at 7 p.m.

- ORU -

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Players Mentioned

#20 Jordan Pyle: F; 6' 1"; Sophomore; Mustang HS

#11 Janae Voelker: G/F; 5' 10"; Senior; Newton HS

Players Mentioned

#20 Jordan Pyle
: 6' 1"; Sophomore; Mustang HS
: F

#11 Janae Voelker
: 5' 10"; Senior; Newton HS
: G/F

Players Mentioned

#20 Jordan Pyle

#11 Janae Voelker

Players Mentioned

#20 Jordan Pyle

#11 Janae Voelker