The Basics
Score: Oral Roberts 100 – Friends 47
Record: ORU (1-1) – Friends (1-1)
Location: Mabee Center (Tulsa, Oklahoma)

TULSA, Okla. – Behind strong performances from newcomers Taleyah Jones and Emily Robinson, the Oral Roberts women's basketball team rolled past Friends, 100-47, in their 2023-24 home opener Thursday afternoon inside the Mabee Center.
 
For the second straight game, Jones led the Golden Eagles in scoring with 22 points on 8-of-18 shooting. The sophomore torched the nets in the opening quarter, netting 15 of her game-best 22 points.
 
Robinson notched her first collegiate double-double as the freshman registered 10 points to go along with a team-best 10 rebounds. The Bokchito, Oklahoma, native became the first ORU freshman to record a double-double since Tirzah Moore during the 2021-22 season. Robinson also added three assists and two steals on the day.
 
Jalei Oglesby followed Jones with 16 points on 6-of-9 shooting to go along with five rebounds. Freshman Annyka Hellendrung and senior Ruthie Udoumoh each registered 12 points, while Megan Weinrich rounded out six Golden Eagles in double-figures with 10.
 
ORU raced out to an 11-0 start in the opening period, capped off by an and-one from Jones at the 6:43 mark. The Falcons finally broke through on the scoreboard with 6:26 remaining behind an Ashlyn Ryall three-pointer. The Golden Eagles responded with a 13-3 surge over the next three minutes, which featured a layup, three and two free throws from Jones. Oglesby drained a midrange jumper as time expired to give ORU a commanding 35-14 lead going into the second quarter.

The Golden Eagles maintained constant pressure on the Falcons throughout the second, outscoring them 26-8. Oglesby sparked a 15-0 ORU run to open the quarter with a pullup jumper in the paint. Transfer guard Ashlyn Sage led the charge during the surge, netting five points. During the run, ORU held Friends scoreless for nearly seven minutes, forcing six turnovers during that span. The Golden Eagles headed into the halftime break with a sizable 61-22 advantage.
 
Following a Weinrich jumper to open the second half, the Falcons pieced together a 7-0 run that spanned nearly three minutes. Oglesby put an end to the run at the 5:18 mark and jumpstarted a 22-3 stretch for ORU as they ended the third with an 85-32 lead. During the surge, Hellendrung pieced together a 9-0 run of her own as the freshman knocked down three consecutive triples. 
 
Golden Eagle fans got a look at some of the new faces on the 2023-24 squad as five newcomers manned the floor to open the fourth. With 3:51 remaining in the contest, ORU surpassed the century mark behind a fastbreak layup by freshman Gentry Baldwin. Despite a 13-0 run by the Falcons to close the contest, the Golden Eagles went on to win 100-47.

THE LEADERS

Oral Roberts: Jones led six Golden Eagles in double figures with 22 points on the day. Robinson pulled down a team-best 10 boards, while Hannah Cooper dished out game-high six assists.

Friends: Ryland Garner led Friends with 18 points on 7-of-16 shooting, while Taylor Jackson registered a game-best 12 rebounds.

Inside the Box Score

• Six Golden Eagles landed in double-figures for the first time since December 12, 2022.
• ORU held Friends to 32.1 percent shooting from the field and 25.0 percent from three.
• On the offensive end, the Golden Eagles shot 43.5 percent from the field.
• On the glass, the Golden Eagles outrebounded the Falcons, 53-37.
• Defensively, ORU forced 27 turnovers and registered 16 steals.
• Udoumoh led all players with four steals on the afternoon.
• Cooper dished out six of the Golden Eagles' 21 assists on the day.
• The senior also chipped in six points and four rebounds.

Up Next
 
The Golden Eagles continue their nonconference schedule as they travel to face Oklahoma on Sunday at 2 p.m.
 
For the latest information on ORU women's basketball, follow @ORUWBB on X or go to www.ORUAthletics.com. Fans can also receive updates on the team by downloading the ORU Athletics App in the Google Play or App Store.