GOODWELL, Okla. – Oklahoma Panhandle State University's women's basketball team got off of its recent four-game skid, thanks to a 59-39 non-conference win at home over Randall University. The Aggies (4-5) never trailed in racking up the 20-point win versus the Saints.
 
"We'll never apologize for a winning," OPSU Head Coach Victor Esparza said after his team had an uncharacteristically-tough night shooting. "Wins are hard to come by. It's good to get off of a four-game losing streak for us; we really needed (the win) badly. We just didn't shoot the ball very well. That's been one of our biggest strengths this year.
 
"We will be okay; we'll be good. We've got to get better defensively. You're going to have nights like this on offense where you don't shoot it very well. It happens. It doesn't matter how many points you score, it's on the defensive end of the floor. You get enough stops and you're going to win games. At the end of the day today we got stops, so that's positive."
 
The Aggies were well-below their season averages in the victory. Hitting nearly 48 percent from the field coming in, OPSU managed just 30 percent (22-73) shooting against Randall. From three-point range – where Panhandle is second in the nation at 41.4 percent – the hosts were just 6-for-29 (20 percent) versus the Saints.
 
OPSU was able separate itself from Randall largely thanks to good ball control, committing just eight turnovers (its second-lowest T.O. total of the year), while the Saints had 19 miscues on their ledger. Panhandle led 14-4 after the first period, with the teams each scoring 13 in the second, as the Aggies took a 27-17 locker room lead at halftime. OPSU began to expand its lead in the third, leading 45-29, before controlling the final period, as well.
 
Junior guard Naomi Rodriguez had a team-leading 14 points, hitting pair of three-balls, as well. Rodriguez pulled down five rebounds to go along with two assists and two steals.
 
Junior transfer Cassia McCaskill was the only other Aggie in double-figure scoring with 12 points, also credited with six rebounds and two assists. Skylar Cleavinger led OPSU with seven rebounds.
 
Laura Moya Demures and Shay Audrain each added eight points. Audrain and Shaylynn Choate, who scored six points, each had a pair of treys in the game. Moya Demures had three assists and Lowendie Laporal had two blocked shots.
 
The Aggies will next be in action on Saturday, December 28, at Northern New Mexico College.