by TULSA, Okla. – Baileigh O’Dell poured in a career-high 25 points in her return to her home state, but the Lamar Lady Cardinals dropped a 73-69 decision to Tulsa in a non-conference women’s basketball game Monday night.
O’Dell, who had a large number of family and friends on hand, finished 7-of-13 from the field, including 5-of-10 from 3-point range. She went 6-of-6 from the foul line. O’Dell has 35 points in her first two games for Lamar (0-2).
Unfortunately for Lamar, the Lady Cardinals couldn’t overcome 14 second-half turnovers, as Tulsa rallied from a nine-point deficit in the second half.
Dominique Edwards had 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Lady Cardinals for her first double-double of the season and 12th of her career. Sophomore forward Bethany Cox, another native Oklahoman, had eight points and seven rebounds for Lamar.
Shauna Long (Standing Rock Sioux) added 7 points for the Cardinals in 21 minutes of play.
“I saw a lot of good things from our young players today,” Lamar coach Robin Harmony said. “We started two freshmen and two sophomores, and they’re going to keep getting better.”
O’Dell had 10 points to lead Lamar in the first half, as the Lady Cardinals took a 36-32 lead into the locker room. Edwards had nine points in the opening period, while Cox had six points.
The Lady Cardinals led by nine points, 46-37, with 15:51 remaining in the second half before things went sour. In one stretch, Lamar went scoreless for eight straight possessions, committing seven turnovers and missing one shot in a period of 3:59.
Tulsa (1-1) led by as many as eight points with 4:48 remaining before the Lady Cardinals clawed their way back into the game. Edwards tied the game at 69 by putting in a layup with 1:34 remaining. Tulsa responded with a jumper by Erika Wakefield to take a 71-69 lead with 1:09 remaining. The Lady Cardinals didn’t get a shot off on their next possession, committing a 30-second violation.
Kelsee Grovey sealed the win by draining two free throws with 14 seconds remaining.
Kadan Brady led Tulsa with 23 points, while Mariah Turner added 14 points for the Golden Hurricane.
The Lady Cardinals don’t have much time to lick their wounds, as they travel to Norman, Okla., to take on the Oklahoma Sooners at 7 p.m. Tuesday. That game will air live on www.LamarCardinals.com. Lamar returns home to host UTSA at 2
