The Basics
Score: Oral Roberts 91 – North Dakota 68
Record: ORU (21-9), (11-5) – North Dakota (9-21), (5-11)
Location: PREMIER Center (Sioux Falls, South Dakota)

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Oral Roberts women's basketball team won their first game of the Summit League Tournament in dominant fashion as they defeated North Dakota, 91-68.
The Golden Eagles advance to the semifinal round where they will take on North Dakota State tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. inside the PREMIER Center on CBS Sports Network.

Summit League Sixth Woman of the Year, Jalei Oglesby, scored a game-high 27 points off the bench for her first back-to-back 20-point outings of the season. Newcomer of the Year, Taleyah Jones, added 23 points and four steals for her 11th 20-point outing of the year. All-First Team honoree, Hannah Cooper, rounded out the double-digit scorers with 16 points, four assists, and four steals. Ruthie Udoumoh pulled down 14 rebounds (7 offensive/7 defensive) for the 30th double figure rebounding game of her career.

Both teams traded baskets in the opening minutes before North Dakota strung together two stops and took a 12-7 lead. A Meghan Weinrich jumper cut the deficit to three before the first media timeout. Out of the break, ORU put together an 11-0 run thanks to contributions from Cooper, Oglesby, and Jones. Once the Golden Eagles claimed the lead, they never surrendered it for the rest of the evening. Jones finished the quarter with 10 points and Oglesby added eight as ORU held a 24-18 lead going into the second quarter.

From the 39 second mark of the first quarter to the 7:37 mark of the second, the Golden Eagles went on a 13-0 run, their largest of the day. UND responded with a quick 7-0 burst of their own before a pair of free throw from Jones quieted the storm. Oglesby scored 11 of her 27 points in the second quarter as the redshirt-sophomore found her rhythm on offense. On the final possession of the first half, North Dakota guard Jayla Owen hit a floater in the paint to cut the ORU lead to 44-35 at the half.

Cooper opened the second half scoring for ORU converting on a layup and drawing the foul on fellow First Team selection, Kacie Borowicz. Borowicz and the Fighting Hawks, though, would not go away easy. UND climbed back within six points of the Golden Eagles with 6:41 remaining. Jones responded with a three and Cooper drew another and-1 opportunity, this time on Kiera Pemberton. Gentry Balwin made it a 9-0 run after knocking down a three to make it 61-46 in favor of the Golden Eagles. ORU maintained its pressure and went to the fourth quarter up 71-50.

Ruthie Udoumoh got the Golden Eagles rolling in the final quarter of play, connecting on her second field goal of the day with a layup in the paint. ORU maintained complete composure and control for the remainder of the fourth, never letting the Fighting Hawks cut it to less than 18 points. The Golden Eagles soundly defeated North Dakota, 91-68, to advance to the next round of the Summit League Championship.

The Leaders
 
Oral Roberts: Jalei Oglesby scored a game-high 27 points, Ruthie Udoumoh grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds, and Emily Robinson and Hannah Cooper dished out four assists.
 
North Dakota: All-First Team honoree, Kacie Borowicz, scored 26 points to go along with three assists. Nakiyah Hurst gathered 10 rebounds enroute to a double-double.

Inside the Box Score

• Oglesby (27), Jones (23), and Cooper (16) all finished in double-digits for ORU.
• ORU recorded 16 steals and forced 23 Fighting Hawks turnovers.
• The Golden Eagles knocked down six three pointers led by three by Jones.
• Jones posted a game-high +26 plus/minus rating.
• Three Golden Eagles snagged three or more steals.
• ORU pulled down 43 rebounds today, grabbing 14 offensive and 29 defensive boards.
• The Golden Eagles outscored UND 29-10 in points off turnovers, 15-2 in second chance points, and 39-11 in bench points.
• The Golden Eagles led for 33:48 minutes of the game.

Up Next
 
The Golden Eagles will face North Dakota State tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. in the semifinal round of the Summit League Championship on CBS Sports Network.
 
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.