TULSA, Okla. -

Trailing by double figures for much of the game, Oral Roberts University's three seniors stepped up down the stretch and led the team to a 71-65 victory over South Dakota State University Saturday at the Mabee Center. With the victory, ORU trims SDSU's Summit League lead to just a half-game.

Jordan Pyle led the Golden Eagles (9-6, 3-1 Summit League) with 17 points in the victory, while fellow senior Georgia Jones added 15 points. Both players were 6-for-9 from the floor.

The third member of ORU's senior class, Dominique Allen, added nine points and a team-best seven rebounds.

The second half was key for all three players. Pyle scored 13 points in the final period, while Jones had 11 points after halftime and Allen added seven.

Kevi Luper finished with 15 points in the victory. Luper and Pyle had four assists each to pace the club, while Amber Carver matched Allen with seven boards.

South Dakota State (9-7, 4-1 Summit League) got 23 points from Jennie Sunnarborg and 16 from Jill Young.

The Jackrabbits shot just 38.6% for the game, while ORU hit at a 52.9% mark.

A prolonged offensive slump early in the first half cost ORU dearly. The team went without a point for 6:41, allowing SDSU to mount a 15-0 run. Young capped the outburst with a three-pointer, giving the Jacks a 17-4 lead at the 11:37 mark.

SDSU maintained that double-digit lead for much of the first half, but Luper sliced into the deficit with her first basket of the game, at the 5:35 mark. The mid-range jumper cut the gap to 26-17.

With their top gun firing, ORU was able to get back in the game late in the half. The Golden Eagles closed the first period on a 14-3 run and trailed just 29-27 at the break.

A Pyle basket on the first possession of the 2nd half tied the game at 29-29, but the Jacks came back with five straight of their own, including an Ashley Eide three-pointer, to take a 34-29 edge with 18:23 left to play.

But ORU rallied again thanks to a pair of Pyle three-pointers. The second one, at the 14:46 mark, gave ORU a 40-39 lead. The advantage was the first for the home team since they led 4-2.

South Dakota State regained control after seeing their lead slip away. A 10-0 Jacks run, including three-pointers by Tara Heiser and Steph Paluch, gave the visitors a 49-40 lead with 11:43 left on the clock.

But the senior Jones would not let ORU go down without a fight. The England native scored nine points as part of a 12-0 Golden Eagle run. Her three-pointer with 5:33 left gave ORU a 56-55 lead.

Finally in command of the game, ORU led for the final 4:46 of play. A steal-and-score by Luper on SDSU's dying possession left no doubt, as ORU left with a six-point win.

ORU has now won five straight regular season match-ups with SDSU. The Golden Eagles hold a 6-5 edge in the all-time series.

ORU stays at home on Monday night, when they host North Dakota State. Tip-off at the Mabee Center is scheduled for 7:05 pm CT.