Box Score THE BASICS
Score: Oral Roberts 73 – No. 21 South Dakota 77
Records: ORU (12-14) (7-6); USD (24-2) (13-0)
Location: Mabee Center – Tulsa, Okla.
TULSA, Okla. – Katie Kirkhart recorded a career high 22 points and seven steals as the Oral Roberts women's basketball team fell short to No. 21 South Dakota, 77-73, Saturday evening at the Mabee Center.
The Golden Eagles fell in a hole to start the game going down 21-5 to end the first period. After going up by three to start the game, the Coyotes went on a 9-0 run. ORU then did not score in the last 4:04 of the quarter as South Dakota went on another 12-0 to end the first 10 minutes. The Golden Eagles shot 15 percent comparted to USD's 37 percent.
The second quarter saw the Golden Eagles go down by as much as 19, their largest deficit of the game, until an 8-0 run brought them back to within 11 with 6:40 to go. After another 7-0 run, ORU trailed by six with 4:11 to go on a steal and fast break layup by Katie Kirkhart. Sarah Garvie hit a three with 43 seconds remaining in the half to make it a one point game. Madison McKeever answered and South Dakota led 35-31 at the half. ORU shot 60 percent from the field as Kirkhart led the team with nine second quarter points. The Golden Eagles out-scored the Coyotes, 26-14.
ORU tied the game at 44 with 5:41 left in the third with a three-point shot by Keni Jo Lippe. The Coyotes then went back up by nine in the third with 52 seconds to play. The Golden Eagles cut it to six down the stretch to trail, 55-49, with 10 minutes to go. Kirkhart scored another nine in the third as both teams shot 50 percent or better from the field.
After going down by nine with 6:27 to go, ORU made it a three point game with a pair of free throws by Montserrat Brotons. Down the stretch, the Golden Eagles got as close as two points, but couldn't ever tie the game. Free throws put South Dakota ahead by four for the final margin of 77-73. It was the smallest margin of victory for the No. 21 Coyotes in Summit League play this season.
THE LEADERS
Oral Roberts: Kirkhart scored 22 points and Lippe grabbed eight rebounds.
South Dakota: Chloe Lamb had 24 points and Hannah Sjerven grabbed eight rebounds.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- ORU shot 41.7 percent overall in tonight's game.
- ORU was out-rebounded by USD, 39-33.
- The Golden Eagles had a 25 percent three-point average.
- ORU turned the ball over 17 times, but forced the Coyotes to turn the ball over 20 times.
- Katie Kirkhart recorded a career high 22 points and seven steals.
- Keni Jo Lippe scored 17 points and grabbed eight rebounds along with four assists.
- Montserrat Brotons tallied 16 points and three boards. Brotons went 5-for-7 from the field and 6-for-7 from the free throw line.
- ORU had 11 bench points in tonight's game and 30 points in the paint.
- Golden Eagles capitalized with 22 points off of turnovers.
Up Next
ORU will make its last road trip of the regular season to face the Denver Pioneers Sunday, February 23 at 2 p.m. CST in Denver, Colorado.
For the latest information on ORU women's basketball, follow @ORUWBB on Twitter or go to www.ORUAthletics.com. Fans can also receive updates on the team by downloading the Golden Eagles Front Row App at ORUAthletics.com/frontrow or in the App Store.
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