SHAWNEE, Okla. ? Oklahoma City University took advantage of 30 turnovers to beat St. Gregory?s 83-56 in its Sooner Athletic Conference opener on Monday at W.P. Wood Fieldhouse.
Mariam Sy, a senior from Mali, West Africa, scored 21 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead the Stars. Paty Silva added 14 points, seven rebounds and two steals for OCU.
OCU, ranked ninth in NAIA Division I women's basketball, went to 10-2, 1-0 in the SAC. St. Gregory?s fell to 6-6, 0-1.
With Zanita Johnson chipping in 13 points and four steals and Fabiana Araujo adding nine points and two steals, OCU coach Rob Edmisson said Sy scoring below her average wasn?t a problem.
?We have balance,? Edmisson said. ?We were close to having five players in double figures.?
St. Gregory?s led 12-7 with 13:57 left in the first half, then 15-13 with 10:15 left in the half. OCU reeled off a 7-0 run to seize the lead for good.
The Stars? Haley Workman and Mikelle Brown started the run by combining to hit three free throws. Sy scored on a layup off Johnson?s steal, then Brown scored a layup to finish the run at the 7:55 mark.
OCU will face Lubbock Christian (Texas) at 6 p.m. Thursday in Abe Lemons Arena.