The Basics
Score: Oral Roberts 82 – Montana State 80
Record: ORU (6-2), (0-0) – Montana State (7-2), (0-0)
Location: Mabee Center (Tulsa, Oklahoma)
 
TULSA, Okla. – The Golden Eagles earned a gritty win over the Montana State Bobcats 82-80, as they moved to 4-0 at the Mabee Center this season.
 
Taleyah Jones and Jalei Oglesby led the ORU's offensive efforts, scoring 22 points each. Jones tallied four rebounds, one block and shot 4-11 from the arc while Oglesby shot a whopping 9-12 (75%) from the floor, racking up seven rebounds and five assists. Despite fouling out in the final two minutes of overtime, Ruthie Udoumoh grabbed a game-high 11 boards to go along with six points and a block.
 
The Golden Eagles opened the game with two turnovers and a Taleyah Jones jump shot to stay close early, down 2-4. Two free throws from Jalei Oglesby and a layup from Ruthie Udoumoh cut an 11-7 Bobcat lead to one (10-11). ORU shot 50% from the floor compared to MSU's 31.3% but ended the first quarter in one point hole (13-12).

The second quarter was an offensive one for both sides with ORU scoring 23 s to MSU's 24. The Bobcats scored five straight points to open the quarter but ORU responded with a Gentry Baldwin triple and a Jalei Oglesby Jumper. Down 37-29, the Golden Eagles caught fire scoring six straight points as they went into the break down two (35-37).
 
Makyra Tramble opened the second half for ORU while Emily Robinson followed her jumper with a three. Two shots from the line, a layup from Tramble and a triple from Taleyah Jones helped the Golden Eagles earn a six-point advantage, forcing an MSU timeout (47-41). A slow close to the fourth from ORU had the Bobcats charging back, going on a 10-4 run to close the third, leveling the game at 51.

A suspenseful fourth quarter had the Golden Eagles fighting from behind, down four with 7:40 left in the game. Taleyah Jones hit her third three of the game to cut the lead to one followed by a Ruthie Udoumoh layup, giving ORU a one-point lead. Tied (67-67) with 42 second left in regulation, Jalei Oglesby hit a baseline jumper while the Bobcats came down the floor and forced a foul, sinking two shots to level the score at 69.
 
In the five-minute overtime period, the Golden Eagles made just one more basket than MSU, outscoring the Bobcats 13-11. With 2:41 to go, ORU was in a four-point hole (75-71). After two free throws extended MSU's lead to four, Taleyah Jones came down the floor and hit her fourth three of the game. Tied at 80, Meghan Weinrich iced the game, knocking down two free throws as Montana State was forced into shooting a contested jumper as time expired.

The Leaders
Oral Roberts: Taleyah Jones and Jalei Oglesby led the ORU's offensive efforts, scoring 22 points each. Oglesby shot a 9-12 (75%) from the floor, tallying seven rebounds and five assists while Jones tallied four rebounds, one block and shot 4-11 from the arc.
 
Montana State:  Esmeralda Morales scored 25 points on 7-20 shooting to go along with two rebounds three assists and a steal.

Inside the Box Score

• Taleyah Jones recorded her fourth straight 20+ point game and fifth of the season against Montana State.
• Jalei Oglesby tallied her second 20+ point game of the season and tied her season-high in assists with five.
• Makyra Tramble extended her streak of hitting a three pointer in a game to eight.
• ORU recorded season-highs in free throws made (20) and turnovers (18).
• The Golden Eagles had their second-best shooting night from the line this season, shooting 20-24 (83.3%) from the stripe.
• The Golden Eagles doubled Montana State bench points scoring 32 to MSU's 16.
• ORU scored 24 second-chance points to Montana State's 12.
• The ORU women's basketball program picked up their first overtime win since 1/3/24 (vs. Northern Colorado).

 
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.