STERLING, KAN. - The Oklahoma City women's basketball team competed in its final game before Thanksgiving break with a heartbreaking defeat on the road at Sterling College, 59-57.
Senior center
Cacie Gorman finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds to notch a double-double and lead the Stars.
After trading buckets to start the game, Oklahoma City (1-3) went on an 8-0 run midway through the first quarter. Senior
Amaya Gordon scored six straight points during the stretch.
OCU led 22-16 at the end of the first quarter after holding Sterling to just three points in the final 4:10 of the frame. Both teams struggled to score in the second quarter, and, after holding the Warriors to just five points, the Stars led by seven at halftime. In that second quarter, OCU's defense held Sterling to 2-of-9 shooting from the fied.
Sterling tied the game 33-33 with 2:53 to play in the third quarter, and led 36-35 going into the fourth. After
Myracle Washington's basket with 6:32 to play, the Stars had a 46-40 lead.
Kali Briar's three-pointer tied the game for Sterling at 51-51 with 3:02 remaining, and the neither led by more than two the rest of the way. Tied at 55, Gorman's two free throws gave the Stars a two-point lead before four free throws by the Warriors in the final :46 closed out the scoring.
Ray Osborn missed a jumper with two seconds left to the end the game.
Amaya Gordon kept her double-figure scoring streak alive with a game-high 18 points on 9-of-13 shooting. Gordon hauled in nine rebounds while racking up a season-high two blocks. Gorman was a perfect 4-for-4 at the free throw line and pulled down nine of her season-high 10 rebounds in the first half.
In all, there were 13 ties and 13 lead changes in the game. Oklahoma City struggled from deep, shooting just 1-of-13 from the three-point line; however, the Stars shot 41.1% from the field, while holding Sterling to just 30.9%.
Oklahoma City will take a short pause for Thanksgiving break and return to action on Tuesday, Nov. 28, as the Stars tip off Sooner Athletic Conference play against John Brown in Siloam Springs, Ark.
