Women's Basketball 2/26/2020 9:25:00 PM

OCU at No. 5 Wayland Baptist Women's Basketball Preview

Stars Attempt to Lock Up SAC Title in Top-5 Battle

Taylor Sylvester has scored in double figures in each of her last two games

6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27
Hutcherson Center | Plainview, Texas

THE MATCHUP
• Oklahoma City University will attempt to lock up the Sooner Athletic Conference women's basketball regular-season championship on Thursday night. With a win at No. 5 Wayland Baptist (Texas), the top-ranked Stars would clinch the title outright, along with the top seed in the SAC Tournament and an automatic berth to the NAIA Division I Women's Basketball Championship in Billings, Mont.
• The Stars are one of only six remaining unbeaten collegiate women's basketball teams, along with Ashland (Ohio) (NCAA-II, 27-0), Drury (Mo.) (NCAA-II, 27-0), Hope (Mich.) (25-0, NCAA-III), Tufts (Mass.) (25-0, NCAA-III), and Massasoit (Mass.) (22-0, NJCAA)
• OCU is looking to claim at least a share of their fourth straight SAC title, and their 10th in the last 11 seasons

ABOUT THE STARS
• Oklahoma City outlasted USAO in their Senior Day matinee on Saturday afternoon at Abe Lemons Arena
• Brennyn Seagler, a 5-foot-11 senior from Gruver, Texas, turned in a 16-point, nine assist effort. She made six of her nine shots from the field, including four of her five 3-point attempts. Seagler also had five rebounds and five steals in the game
• Taylor Sylvester, a 6-5 senior from Chickasha, Okla., scored in double figures for the second straight game, netting 12 points on 6-for-11 shooting in the game. She grabbed five rebounds and dished out three assists as well. Sylvester ranks fifth in the NAIA in total blocks (73) and blocks per game (2.7)
• OCU leads the NAIA in free throw percentage at 80 percent, and they rank in the top-5 in 10 additional categories. Mallory Lockhart paces the country with 106 3-pointers and 3.9 3s a game. To see how the Stars rate among NAIA Division I statistically, click here
• Oklahoma City remained atop the NAIA Division I rankings when the new poll was released on Wednesday. OCU continued the NAIA's longest streak of top-25 appearances with its 260th consecutive national ranking dating back to 1997-98. OCU has made 25 trips, including 22 consecutive appearances, to the NAIA Division I Tournament and captured nine national championships in 1988, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2017
• The Stars tied for first in the SAC preseason coaches poll. Oklahoma City took its 19th SAC regular-season championship last season. OCU has won or shared nine of the last 10 league titles, going 238-22 (.915 winning percentage) within SAC play since 2007-08
• OCU won the earlier meeting this season, taking a 70-46 win over the Flying Queens in Oklahoma City on Nov. 23. Abby Selzer led all scorers in the game with 14 points, Erika Ankney added 13, and Lockhart and NaShyla Hammons each chipped in 11

ABOUT THE FLYING QUEENS
• Wayland raced out to a big lead on Saturday against John Brown University, and they cruised home with their 23rd straight win, taking a 94-59 win over the Golden Eagles
• Jenna Cooper (25), Morgan Bennett (20), and Kambrey Blakey (20) each broke the 20-point threshold in the win, and five players scored in double figures in the game
• Wayland Baptist and OCU were tied atop the SAC preseason coaches poll

MEET THE COACHES
Bo Overton (142-22, fifth season with OCU)
• Led Stars to a 33-5 season with the SAC regular-season crown and an NAIA DI tournament championship trip in 2018-19
• Overton has coached four all-Americans while at OCU, including Daniela Wallen, the 2017 NAIA DI player of the year, and Daniela Galindo, the 2018 WBCA NAIA player of the year
• Overton served as an assistant coach for the Chinese national team in the 2012 Olympic games
• From 1998-2004, Overton served as an assistant for Oklahoma. The Sooners made five NCAA Tournament appearances during that time, with a 2002 NCAA runner-up finish and Final Four berth. He also earned three Big 12 regular-season titles and two conference tournament championships throughout his six years
• He has an overall record coaching college women of 164-69 in seven years as a head coach

Alesha Ellis (172-51, seventh season with WBU)
• Wayland Baptist handed Ellis her 100th career win as head coach in a 65-39 win over Panhandle State on Jan. 15, 2018
• Ellis has led Wayland Baptist to five consecutive appearances in the NAIA Division I Championship Tournament. The Flying Queens advanced to the 2018 Fab Four for their first appearance in the national semifinals since 1992
• Ellis took Lubbock Christian High School (Texas) to the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) Class 3A state championship prior to becoming the Wayland coach

ON THE AIR
• Wayland Baptist will offer a live video broadcast as well as live stats

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Players Mentioned

#5 Daniela Galindo: G; 5' 11"; Senior

#25 NaShyla Hammons: F; 6' 0"; Senior

#5 Mallory Lockhart: G; 5' 8"; Sophomore

#34 Brennyn Seagler: F; 5' 11"; Senior

#40 Abby Selzer: C; 6' 2"; Sophomore

#33 Taylor Sylvester: C; 6' 5"; Senior

#21 Erika Ankney: G; 5' 9"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#5 Daniela Galindo
: 5' 11"; Senior
: G

#25 NaShyla Hammons
: 6' 0"; Senior
: F

#5 Mallory Lockhart
: 5' 8"; Sophomore
: G

#34 Brennyn Seagler
: 5' 11"; Senior
: F

#40 Abby Selzer
: 6' 2"; Sophomore
: C

#33 Taylor Sylvester
: 6' 5"; Senior
: C

#21 Erika Ankney
: 5' 9"; Sophomore
: G