CHICKASHA, Okla. – Oklahoma City University upended USAO 86-55 Saturday at USAO Fieldhouse.
The Stars, ranked No. 7 in NAIA Division I women's basketball, scored 43 points off 23 USAO turnovers and outscored the Lady Drovers 32-10 in the paint to improve to 12-2 on the season and 9-1 in Sooner Athletic Conference play.
3-pointers from Yvonte Neal and Kayla MacKenzie kick started the OCU offense and the Stars started the game on a 19-3 run. Ouleymatou Coulibaly fueled the run with six points.
USAO responded with 3-pointers from Rashelle Carr, Brittany Elkins and Paige Pulliam and cut the OCU advantage to 19-14 at the 12:35 mark.
Neal and MacKenzie answered with back-to-back triples and stretched the Stars' lead back to double digits.
The Stars led by as many as 18 points in the period and took a 47-31 lead to locker room at halftime.
OCU shot 50 percent from the field while holding the Lady Drovers to just 36 percent in the period.
A 3-pointer from Carr cut the Stars' lead to 13 with 17:58 to go.
Neal followed with back-to-back 3-point jumpers and sparked OCU to a 23-3 run and took a commanding 72-39 lead with 8:47 remaining.
The Stars led by as many as 37 down the stretch and cruised to the 86-55 victory.
The Stars got 31 points from their bench and scored 17 second-chance points on the day.
Neal led the Stars' charge with a season-high 27 points, on 6-of-11 from 3-point range, and six rebounds. Autumn Lau posted her fourth double-double of the season with 17 points and 10 rebounds, and MacKenzie followed with 13 points and seven steals.
The Stars will return to action against Southwestern Assemblies of God (Texas) at 6 p.m. Jan. 30 at Abe Lemons Arena.