In a game where both teams struggled to find offensive rhythm, the Lady Eagles outscored Saint Mary by 13 points in the second half to pull away and earn a victory in the first round of the 2022 KCAC Women's Basketball Tournament. With the win, the Lady Eagles advanced to the quarterfinals.

Recap:

• The first quarter ended in a 14-14 tie as both teams shot better than 50% but had trouble taking care of the ball. OKWU and Saint Mary each committed 5 turnovers in the period.
• OKWU won the second quarter by a basket to go into halftime with a 34-32 lead. River Jeffries hit a 3-pointer with under 10 seconds left in the half to give OKWU some momentum and the halftime lead.
• Turnovers were a problem for both teams again in the third, as each team committed 7 more. The Lady Eagles made 4 shots from deep to spark their offense and pull further ahead. Going into the final period, they led 51-42.
• In the fourth, OKWU showed their strength and finished the job. ShaRae Frazier had 6 points and 6 rebounds in the final period alone to lead a feisty defense. OKWU's balanced attack saw 7 different players score in the quarter as the Lady Eagles closed out the win, 73-58.

Now the Numbers:

• OKWU shot 43% from beyond the arc in the game, continuing a good stretch of shooting.
• OKWU outrebounded Saint Mary 36-23. Their work on the offensive glass led to 17 second chance points.
• OKWU's bench continues to play well, as the reserves totaled 34 points on the night.
• Zariah Tillman led the way with 16 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals as her steady hand helped the Lady Eagles generate offense all night.
• Melanie Williams played the role of eraser, swatting 4 shots on the night and making life tough for Saint Mary at every turn.
• Antonia Porter's 11 points off the bench led the OKWU reserves.

Up Next:

• The #7-seeded Lady Eagles hit the road Wednesday to face off against #2 Tabor in the quarterfinals. The game is set for a 7 p.m. tip.