LUBBOCK, Texas – Oklahoma City University captured the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament women's basketball championship for the second year in a row with a 55-42 victory over Oklahoma Baptist on Saturday at the Rip Griffin Center.
OCU's Chelsea Ledbetter, a senior from Norman, Okla., earned tournament most valuable player. The 13th-ranked Stars improved to 28-5 and will play next in the NAIA Division I Tournament on March 18-24 in Jackson, Tenn.
Ledbetter had 14 points, seven rebounds and three assists for the Stars, while Chontaye Walter had 13 points and four rebounds. Tournament hustle award winner Holly Hardin scored 12 points, grabbed a team-high nine rebounds and recorded seven blocked shots.
“Chelsea had a great week from start to finish,” OCU coach Rob Edmisson said. “She was the huge hero in the semifinals to get us here. Offensively, she hit some big baskets and got the ball to our other kids. She's playing better than she has ever played in her career for us. She's playing with a high level of confidence, and so is our team.”
Hardin, Ledbetter and Breezy Martin represented OCU on the all-tournament team, joining Oklahoma Baptist's Taujhnae Travis and Afeisha Noel, Lubbock Christian (Texas)'s Sierra Lovorn and Wayland Baptist (Texas)'s Rose Ouma.
Travis was Oklahoma Baptist's only double-digit scorer with 17 points as her team shot 29.3 percent from the floor. OCU avenged itself on fourth-ranked regular-season SAC champion Oklahoma Baptist, which swept the Stars during the season.
“Our team defense was as good as it's been in my four years at OCU,” Edmisson said. “To hold Oklahoma Baptist like that, we locked down. Our energy level was unbelievable. If you drove the lane on Holly, she was air-mailing it. She rejected people. Chontaye Walter had an unbelievable defensive effort on Tahjhnae. Chontaye played all 40 minutes and never came off the court.”
Oklahoma Baptist led 9-4, but Ledbetter answered for the Stars by sinking a trey, two free throws and a 3-pointer. Ledbetter gave OCU the lead for good.
Up 27-23, OCU took command with a 9-0 run. Walter's free throws at 15:03 started that stretch, and Atta Diabate's 3-point play put the Stars ahead 36-23 with 11:44 to go.
Boxscore
Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament
At Lubbock, Texas
Rip Griffin Center
Tuesday's Results
Mid-America Christian 61, John Brown 57
Rogers State 84, Northwestern Oklahoma State 60
Science & Arts of Oklahoma 64, Oklahoma Christian 56
Wayland Baptist 87, St. Gregory's 58
Wednesday's Results
Quarterfinals
Oklahoma Baptist 68, Mid-America Christian 52
Oklahoma City 72, Rogers State 54
Wayland Baptist 68, Southern Nazarene 61
Lubbock Christian 83, USAO 72
Friday's Results
Semifinals
Oklahoma Baptist 60, Wayland Baptist 57
Oklahoma City 62, Lubbock Christian 60
Saturday's Result
Championship
Oklahoma City 55, Oklahoma Baptist 42
