OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City University walloped Lubbock Christian (Texas) 94-40 on Saturday at Abe Lemons Arena in a clash of top 15-ranked teams in NAIA Division I women's basketball.
The seventh-ranked Stars (8-3, 3-1 Sooner Athletic Conference) allowed their fewest points of the season to 15th-ranked Lubbock Christian (7-4, 2-3).
OCU opened up leads of 31-4 and 37-7 early. The Stars led by as many as 58 points when Kirstin Baker's breakaway layup put OCU up 94-36 with 2:38 remaining.
Lauren Gober, a freshman from Newcastle, Okla., scored a season-high 20 points to lead five double-figure scorers for OCU. Gober nailed four 3-pointers.
Donica Cosby, a junior from Coldwater, Miss., added 14 points, six assists and three steals, while Laura Duncan, a senior from Edmond, Okla., chipped in 12 points, five rebounds and four steals for the Stars. Starr Fairbanks scored 11 points on 5-of-5 shooting from the field, and Chontaye Walter had 11 points, five assists and four steals.
“We gave a glimpse of what we can be,” OCU coach Rob Edmisson said. “Our commitment to defend was tremendous. This is the team I thought I'd see at the beginning of the year. I was proud of our kids.”
Lubbock Christian managed only 28.2 percent shooting from the floor while committing 30 turnovers. Lubbock Christian shot 19 percent in the first half, hitting one of its first 12 and two of its first 16 shots from the field.
Lubbock Christian had come off a 110-23 beating of Dallas Christian on Thursday.
“Our energy level was unbelievable,” Edmisson said. “We contested every shot. That had a lot to do with our game plan. To force 30 turnovers against a top-15 team says a lot about our team. They took a lot of pride in their defense.”
OCU sank 56.1 percent of its shots, raising its percentage to 64.5 percent in the second period. The Stars dropped in seven 3-pointers. OCU outscored Lubbock Christian 21-4 in transition points while limiting its turnovers to 10.
Leading 10-4 early, OCU reeled off 21 unanswered points. Gober ignited the Stars surge with a 3-pointer at 15:26 left in the first half.
Seven OCU players scored during the Stars' 21-0 run. K.J. Johnson capped the splurge with a jumper in the lane with 8:11 left in the first.
The Stars take on 18th-ranked Wayland Baptist (Texas) at 3 p.m. Monday at Abe Lemons Arena.
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