by LAWRENCE, Kan. – The Ottawa University women’s basketball team got back on the winning track with an 87-68 victory over Haskell Indian Nations University on Tuesday night at the Coffin Sports Complex.
Maria Moore (Dakota/Lakota/Gros Ventre) started the scoring off for the Braves with a 3-pt field goal to open the game. Haskell went on a min-run, 8-5, to tie the game at eight all. The teams exchanged baskets with Haskell taking a 13-12 lead over the Braves with 4:47 to go in the first quarter.
Haskell continued to hold its lead over the Braves, increasing its advantage to 16-12. OU responded with a 3-pt basket from Jayla Johnson and a layup by Hailey Henry to retake the lead, 17-16 at the 2:51 mark. Haskell quickly responded and retook the lead on a 3-pt play by Marilyn Goodman, 19-17.
A basket by Nicole Brown tied the game, 19-19, with 1:14 remaining in the first quarter. A three by Haskell gave the Indians a 22-19 lead at the 1:06 mark. After a defensive stop by the Braves, Moore hit a basket with 10 seconds on the clock and the Braves were within 22-21 at the start of the second quarter.
The teams exchanged baskets in the first three minutes of the second quarter. Ottawa was within 29-28 of HINU after two Alyssa Guzman free throws. On its next trip down the floor, Haskell pushed its lead to 31-28. Ottawa tied the game on its next trip down the floor. Guzman snagged the offensive rebound and found an open Cierra Brown. She hit the three and the game was tied 31-31 with 6:09 left in the half.
The building went cold for the next two minutes. Haskell broke the cold spell with a layup to retake the lead 33-31. Ottawa quickly tied it on a basket by Moore, 33-33. Haskell scored the next four points to take a 37-33 lead over the Braves with 2:21 on the clock.
Ottawa cut into the lead with two free throws from Jayla Johnson to get within 37-35. After a defensive stop by the Braves, Ahoneste Walker found an open Moore for a 3-pt basket and the Braves had a 38-37 lead with 1:24 left in the second quarter.
Haskell quickly answered with four straight points, taking a 41-38 lead over OU with 29 seconds on the clock. After a timeout by the Braves, Nicole Brown hit a jumper in the paint to get Ottawa within one point, 41-40, with eight seconds left in the second. Johnson then stole the ball and passed it ahead to Walker. She hit the 3-pt field goal as the buzzer sounded and OU took a 43-41 lead into the locker room.
Moore opened the third, just like the first, by hitting a 3-pt field goal and OU led 46-41. Haskell stayed within striking distance of the Braves and were within 49-47 of OU with 7:20 to go in the third quarter.
The Braves responded with an 10-2 run, taking a 59-49 lead over Haskell after a Cierra Brown layup at the 3:54 mark in the third. Haskell cut the Brave lead to seven points, 61-54 with 1:33 to go in the quarter. But OU ended the third by outscoring Haskell 6-3 in the final minute to take a 67-54 lead into the fourth.
Four straight points by Henry to start the fourth gave OU a 71-54 lead. Haskell cut OU’s lead 12 points, 71-59. Cierra Brown scored the next five points for Ottawa, increasing OU’s lead to 76-59 with 5:56 remaining in regulation. The Braves were able to empty its bench in the final 1:16 of the game, taking the 87-68 victory.
Inside the Box Score
- Ottawa shot 51.7 percent from the floor, 61.5 percent in the second half. The Braves shot 45.8 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 82.4 percent from the free throw line.
- OU had four players in double figures, led by Maria Moore’s double-double. She had 20 points and 10 rebounds.
