OKLAHOMA CITY – Eseta Sepeni came through with the win at 191 pounds to bring Oklahoma City University the dual victory against Texas Wesleyan on Wednesday night at Abe Lemons Arena in a showdown of top 20-ranked teams in NAIA women's wrestling. 

The dual score ended up even at 24-24, but Oklahoma City, ranked 16th, became the winner based upon number of matches won including forfeits. The Stars (3-0) took six of the 10 bouts Wednesday. 

Sepeni, a freshman from Hermiston, Ore., delivered a 15-5 victory over Texas Wesleyan's Aalyah Villarreal in the 191-pound match. Sepeni moved ahead in the second period with a series of takedowns, including a four-point move.  

"Eseta's win was a lot of fun for the team," OCU coach Nicole Tyson said. "She's actually only wrestled for a year, so we are all very proud of her and the effort that she continued to show throughout the whole match even when she was exhausted. It was a team effort to get that win, but she sealed the deal for us." 

Texas Wesleyan's Leilani Hernandez pinned Irene Sanchez at 170 pounds in 22 seconds. The sixth-ranked Lady Rams took the lead in the dual 23-20. 

At 143 pounds, Destiny Lyng of the Stars prevailed over Mea Mohler 8-1. Lyng, a senior from Costa Mesa, Calif., saw her first action of the season. Lyng, ranked No. 1 at her weight, seized the national title last season. 

At 123, OCU's Avery Ashley knocked off Camille Fournier 12-2. Ashley, a freshman from Lucas, Texas, upended Fournier, the No. 2-ranked individual in the NAIA at 123. 

"I feel like they all wrestled hard which is what we were looking for as a team," Tyson said. " I'm especially impressed with freshman Avery Ashley, who won in a tech fall against a returning all-American. Sophie won a grudge match against the girl she lost to at the conference tournament last year. It's very exciting to see this progress so early in the season." 

The Stars wrestle next in the Carl Albert State Viking Open at 9 a.m. Sunday in Poteau, Okla. 

OKLAHOMA CITY 24 

TEXAS WESLEYAN 24 

101: Jolie Lucas, TXWES, by forfeit (TXWES leads 5-0) 

109: Jasmine Sands, TXWES, pinned Iby Garcia, 0:52 (TXWES leads 10-0) 

116: Nadia Alejandres, OCU, by forfeit (TXWES leads 10-5) 

123: Avery Ashley, OCU, tech. fall Camille Fournier, 12-2 (TXWES leads 11-9) 

130: Sophia Smith, OCU, dec. Devin Patton, 7-6 (Dual tied 12-12) 

136: Maryellen Lafferty, TXWES, by forfeit (TXWES leads 17-12) 

143: Destiny Lyng, OCU, dec. Mea Mohler, 8-1 (TXWES leads 18-15) 

155: Angelina Adams, OCU, by forfeit (OCU leads 20-18) 

170: Leilani Hernandez, TXWES, pinned Irene Sanchez, 0:28 (TXWES leads 23-20) 

191: Eseta Sepeni, OCU, tech. fall Aalyah Villarreal, 15-5 (Dual tied 24-24) 

OCU declared dual winner based on number of wins including forfeits