The Basics
Score: Oral Roberts 66 – North Dakota State 75
Record: ORU (21-10), (11-5) – North Dakota State (21-10), (13-3)
Location: PREMIER Center (Sioux Falls, South Dakota)

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Oral Roberts women's basketball team's historic 2023-24 campaign came to a close Monday afternoon in the PREMIER Center as they fell to North Dakota State, 75-66, in the Summit League Championship semifinals.

Ruthie Udoumoh paced the Golden Eagles with her 13th double-double of the season after scoring 21 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. Taleyah Jones scored 20 points while going a perfect 8-of-8 from the free throw line. Hannah Cooper was the final Golden Eagle in double-digits as she added 14 points and six assists.

ORU jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead behind two layups by Udoumoh and a pair of free throws from Cooper. NDSU responded and trailed 7-8 at the first media timeout. The Bison strung together a 6-0 run following the timeout to take the lead and never looked back. NDSU led 22-12 after the end of the first quarter.

The Bison extended its lead out to 14 before a pair of Udoumoh putbacks and free throws by Jones brought ORU within single digits. Both teams traded baskets over the next 1:24 as NDSU led 32-20 at the media timeout. Udoumoh and Jones continued to lead the charge for the Golden Eagles as Udoumoh converted on an and-1 opportunity and Jones hit a baseline fadeaway and layup at the rim. The Bison went into the break up 38-28.

The Golden Eagles fought back in the opening minutes of the second half as they were able to trim the NDSU lead down to just six at the media timeout. Udoumoh was a perfect 8-of-8 from the floor at the timeout as she dominated the paint for ORU. Both programs went back in forth in the final minutes of the third quarter, but the Bison held onto a 53-44 lead going into the fourth.

NDSU extended its lead all the way to 15 with 4:13 left, answering every ORU basket with one of their own. The Golden Eagles wouldn't go away, though, with Jones, Jalei Oglesby, and Cooper willed ORU to a 10-2 run to bring the score within six. The clock was too much of a factor, however, forcing the Golden Eagles to begin fouling the Bison. NDSU iced the game at the free throw line and came away with a 75-66 win.

The Leaders
 
Oral Roberts: Udoumoh had game-highs in scoring and rebounding with 21 points and 12 boards. Cooper dished out a game-high six assists.
 
North Dakota State: Heaven Hamling and Abbie Draper each scored 18 points and Hamling pulled down 11 rebounds. Abby Schulte recorded four assists.

Inside the Box Score

• Udoumoh (21), Jones (20), and Cooper (14) all finished in double-digits for ORU.
• ORU recorded 16 steals and forced 23 Fighting Hawks turnovers.
• The Golden Eagles went 0-of-8 from the three point line.
• Udoumoh registered five steals.
• ORU pulled down 35 rebounds today, grabbing 15 offensive and 20 defensive boards.
• The Golden Eagles outscored NDSU 20-13 in points off turnovers, 19-15 in second chance points, and 8-7 in fast break points.

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.