OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City University prevailed over Benedictine (Kan.) 60-46 on Saturday at Abe Lemons Arena in a matchup of women's basketball teams ranked in the top 15 of NAIA Division I.
Daniela Wallen, a senior from Caracas, Venezuela, fueled the Stars with 19 points, 11 rebounds and seven steals. Ninth-ranked OCU (11-1) ran its win streak to 10, while 14th-ranked Benedictine dropped to 7-5.
Daniela Galindo, a junior from Shattuck, Okla., posted 16 points and six rebounds, while Mariana Duran, a senior from Yaracuy, Venezuela, accumulated seven points, seven rebounds, 10 assists and nine steals for the Stars.
Wallen compiled her third consecutive double-double and eighth double-double of the season. She shot a season-low 28 percent from the field.
"I think where this game is the Saturday after finals right before Christmas, I was telling our assistant Megan Patel if we could just win by one and get out of here (we would be satisfied)," OCU coach Bo Overton said. "Benedictine's a very good team. They're a solid, tough team. Daniela couldn't get to the basket. They did a really good job. I thought our defense was spectacular. That was able to get us out in transition and get some easy baskets, and that's how we scored and were able to win this game."
Benedictine managed 25 percent shooting from the field and gave away 28 turnovers. The Stars won despite shooting 35.9 percent from the floor and committing 21 turnovers. OCU outscored Benedictine 14-2 in points off the fast break.
OCU outscored Benedictine 8-0 through the first five minutes of the game. Benedictine missed its first nine shots from the field and committed six turnovers in that span. The Stars led 10-7 after the first quarter as Benedictine had eight turnovers.
Galindo sparked a third-quarter 8-0 OCU splurge. Galindo downed a trey followed by Nashyla Hammons' free throws, then came up with a 3-point play. OCU went ahead 44-25 with 4:59 left in the third for its largest lead of the contest.
Oklahoma City will take floor for the first time in 2017 at 6 p.m. Jan. 5 at Abe Lemons Arena, resuming Sooner Athletic Conference play against Mid-America Christian.