LANGSTON, Okla. – Oklahoma City University topped Langston 70-65 on Thursday at C. Felton Gayles Fieldhouse in a matchup of top 25-ranked teams in NAIA women's basketball.
Desiree Jeffries, a sophomore from Oklahoma City, served as the Stars' ringleader with 17 points and three assists in the season opener for both teams. OCU entered as the third-ranked team in NAIA Division I, while Langston stood 15th.
Starr Fairbanks, a senior from Cincinnati, posted 13 points and two steals for OCU. Breezy Martin, a senior from Oklahoma City, chipped in nine points, three rebounds and two assists.
The Stars increased their field-goal percentage to 52.4 percent in the second half after sinking 40 percent of their shots in the first. Langston built a 44-32 advantage in rebounding over OCU.
“We were pleased to get the win in a hostile environment,” OCU coach Rob Edmisson said. “We played poorly offensively and allowed them 20 offensive rebounds. They're a good team.”
OCU held its largest lead at 39-30 after Fairbanks scored on a layup. Jeffries pocketed a steal on OCU's end of the court and found Fairbanks in the lane for the bucket.
The Stars matched that advantage on three more occasions. Donica Cosby knocked in a trey for a 62-53 OCU lead, and Jeffries dropped in a free throw for a 63-54 Stars lead.
Fairbanks' free shot put OCU up 66-57 with 2:39 remaining in the game.
Langston threatened OCU by cutting its deficit to 44-42 on Stephanie Madden's free throws at 11:15 left in the game. Fairbanks responded with a jumper, then Cosby added a free throw to keep OCU ahead.
Fairbanks gave OCU an early 17-10 lead on a layup. Langston responded to take 22-21 and 24-23 edges. OCU managed to take a 33-28 lead into halftime. Jeffries broke a 28-28 tie with a free throw, then Cara Pugh added free throws before Jeffries' lay-in.
The Stars take on Missouri at 2 p.m. Sunday in Columbia, Mo.
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