OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City begins Sooner Athletic Conference basketball action on Saturday at Southwestern Christian University in a 2 p.m. contest.
 
Both teams enter the SAC season at 3-1 overall.
 
OCU Notebook
SAC Picks: The Stars were picked to finish eighth in the Sooner Athletic Conference by the league coaches and Southwestern Christian was selected 10^th.
 
Massey Says: The Massey Ratings, which use a strength of schedule algorithm to predict outcomes, have Southwestern Christian taking this matchup 66-61
 
Last SAC Season: The Stars went 10-14 in the Sooner Athletic Conference last season and last had a winning SAC mark in 2019-20 when OCU went 19-1.
 
SAC Opener: Despite some recent negative history, OCU is going for its second consecutive SAC opening win. The Stars beat Nelson last season, 71-52.
 
Stars on the Road: OCU's 89-79 win at Sterling on Friday is the team's lone true road game. Ellie Willard scored 18 points and five other Stars reached double-figures in the scoring column. Jerzie Bryant had 13 points. Monica Devine, Victoria Ososanya, Sunishka Kartik and Amanda Sene Da Cruz added 12 points each.
 
Good Start: The Stars head to Bethany with a 3-1 record. It's the best four-game start since the 2021-22 team opened with four wins.
 
Scoring: Ellie Willard leads the team in scoring at 18.8 points per game. Two other Stars average 10 or more points: Jerzie Bryant (10.3) and Weronika Tomaszuk (10.3). Willard leads the team with eight three-pointers.

Free but Not Easy: The Stars are shooting 67 percent from the free-throw line this season. Lauren Rowan has been doing well there this season, shooting 88.2 percent (15-17). Sunishka Kartik (8-8) and Lia Sekhniashvili (5-5) are perfect early in the season.
 
Board Work: The Stars are out-rebounding opponents by more than five rebounds per game and averaging 42 per game. Weronika Tomaszuk leads the team with seven rebounds per game. Monica Devine leads the squad with 10 offensive rebounds this season.
 
Feed Me: Seven Stars have multiple assists this season, led by Ellie Willard with 14. She is averaging 3.3 assists per game. OCU averages 13.3 as a team.
 
Steals: Sunishka Kartik leads the Stars with six steals and averages 1.5 per game. Victoria Ososanya averages one steal per game as a reserve.
 
History with SCU: The Stars and Eagles split the series last season with each team winning its home game.
 
Scouting the Eagles: Southwestern Christian is 3-1 on the season after an 89-47 win over Hesston on Saturday. Senior forward Kaydrin Scott leads the team with 17 points and 63 rebounds per game.
 
Thirty: Ellie Willard put up 30 points in OCU's win over Ottawa. It was OCU's first 30-point game since Annillia Dawn scored 34 at Mid-America Christian in 2023.