Women's Basketball 1/5/2012 1:24:00 AM

Stars survive 70-57 at Rogers State

Five Stars scored in double figures to move to 13-0

Philicia Kelly scored 11 points off the bench against Rogers State.

CLAREMORE, Okla. – Top-ranked Oklahoma City University women's basketball survived against 25th-ranked Rogers State, winning 70-57 at the Claremore Expo Center.
Five Stars scored in double figures to help move their record to 13-0 on the season and 7-0 in Sooner Athletic Conference play.
With the score tied at 8-8 at the 17:14 mark, Desiree Jeffries scored in the paint to spark the Stars to a 9-0 run to make the score 17-8 with 12:13 to go in the half.
OCU maintained its lead until Rogers State's Gianna Woods buried a 3-pointer followed by two free throws to send the Hillcats on a 9-0 run and make the score 28-25 with less than two minutes left in the first half.
Senior Philicia Kelly made two free throws to tie the game at 30-30 with 15 seconds to go. After a Rogers State turnover, Jeffries hit a 3-pointer to send the Stars to the locker room with a 33-30 lead.
OCU shot 36 percent from the floor and 21 percent from 3-point distance in the first half, but turned the ball over 12 times in the period.
The Stars' 33-point half was their second lowest of the season.
OCU opened the second half on a 9-2 run, fueled by four points from Kelly, and took a 41-32 lead with 14:58 left to play. The Stars forced six Rogers State turnovers in the first five minutes of the period.
Rogers State responded with a 12-3 run after a 3-pointer from Ariani Silva and tied the game at 44-44 at the 10:37 mark.
With the score tied at 48-48 the Stars got back-to-back baskets from Jeffries and Dietra Caldwell to start OCU on a 12-2 run and make the score 60-50 with 4:28 remaining.
Rogers State cut the lead to 60-53 at the 2:26 mark, but the Stars made free throws down the stretch to escape with the 70-57 win.
Jeffries led the way offensively with 15 points. The senior forward added 10 rebounds to post a double-double.
Senior Tiffany Goldwire finished with 14 points and five rebounds in 30 minutes of action. Nicollette Smith and Kelly chipped in with 11 point apiece and Caldwell notched 10 points and six rebounds.
OCU shot 40 percent from the floor and held Rogers State to 27 percent from the field and 28 percent from 3-point land in the second half.
The Stars defense forced 27 turnovers, but gave away 22 of their own on the game.
OCU will return to action against John Brown (Ark.) at 3 p.m. Saturday at Abe Lemons Arena.

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