BETHANY, Okla. – Oklahoma City University captured its third consecutive Sooner Athletic Conference women's basketball tournament title, prevailing 62-55 over Oklahoma Baptist on Saturday at the Sawyer Center.
Donica Cosby, a junior from Coldwater, Miss., picked up the tournament most valuable player after an 18-point performance. The Stars, ranked sixth in NAIA Division I, rallied from an eight-point deficit to run their win streak to 23.
Fourth-ranked Oklahoma Baptist dropped to 30-3. OCU halted OBU's 13-game win streak.
Cosby also contributed four rebounds, three assists and three steals. Starr Fairbanks, a junior from Cincinnati, came off the bench to produce 17 points, and Holly Hardin, a senior from Chickasha, Okla., had 10 points and eight rebounds.
Laura Duncan, a senior from Edmond, Okla., earned the tournament hustle award. Duncan registered five points, four rebounds, three assists and a block. She reached 1,000 points in her three-year OCU career.
Lauren Gober, a freshman from Newcastle, Okla., and Fairbanks made the all-tournament team.
OCU previously won SAC Tournament titles in 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2009. The Stars secured the conference's automatic berth by winning the tournament.
The NAIA Division I women's basketball tournament bracket will be unveiled 3 p.m. Wednesday live on the College Fanz Sports Network.
“We had a great team effort,” OCU coach Rob Edmisson said. “We defended really well and made big plays at important times. I'm really proud of our kids. We deserve a No. 1 seed at the national tournament.”
The Stars erased a 34-34 tie with a 10-2 spree. Fairbanks began the run with a 3-point play. Gober knocked in a jumper, and Cosby dropped in a 3-pointer. Chontaye Walter ended the splurge with a jump shot in transition.
OCU ran off 10 consecutive points early in the second half to turn the tables. Taujhnae Travis' transition bucket to give Oklahoma Baptist its largest lead at 30-22 with 19:20 left in the game.
Hardin sparked the Stars with back-to-back baskets, and Fairbanks had a fastbreak jumper. Gober sank a pair of free throws. Fairbanks' lay-in put OCU ahead 32-30 at the 16:30 mark to cap the run.
OCU built a nine-point lead twice, the second time on Cosby's free shot at 59-50 with 1:27 remaining.
Boxscore
Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament
At Bethany, Okla.
Sawyer Center
WOMEN
Thursday's Results
Lubbock Christian 68, Wayland Baptist 64
Rogers State 60, Oklahoma Christian 55
Oklahoma Baptist 76, Northwestern Oklahoma State 33
Oklahoma City 75, Southern Nazarene 74
Friday's Results
Oklahoma Baptist 87, Rogers State 75
Oklahoma City 79, Lubbock Christian 77, OT
Saturday's Result
Championship
Oklahoma City 62, Oklahoma Baptist 55
All-Tournament
Taujhnae Travis, Oklahoma Baptist; Gabi Mattox, Oklahoma Baptist; Amy Pryor, Oklahoma Baptist; Lauren Gober, Oklahoma City; Starr Fairbanks, Oklahoma City.
Most valuable player: Donica Cosby, Oklahoma City.
Hustle award: Laura Duncan, Oklahoma City.
