GOODWELL, Okla. – Five Oklahoma Panhandle State University women's basketball players scored in double figures, but OPSU came up just short in its home Sooner Athletic Conference contest versus Southwestern Assemblies of God University, 81-77, at Anchor D Arena. The Aggies and Lions played through four ties and five lead changes during the game.
 
Panhandle trailed by its largest deficit – 10 points – at the end of the first quarter, 24-14. OPSU cut that to two points by halftime (37-35) and managed to grab the upper hand by one point after three stanzas, 57-56.  
 
But the final quarter found Panhandle out-scored by SAGU, 25-20. The two teams were still tied at 60-60 with 8:28 minutes to play in regulation. The Lions went on a 7-0 run over the next two minutes to create a lead they would not relinquish. A pair of free throws by Shaylynn Choate with 1:22 left to be played got OPSU to within a single basket, 77-75, but that proved to be as close as the Aggies could get in the waning seconds.
 
The quartet of Panhandle double-figure scorers was led by 13 from Choate. Choate was 5-of-9 from the field, had one trey and went 2-for-2 from the free throw stripe.
 
Junior Cassia McCaskill and senior Nadia Hayes each booked 12 points.  McCaskill recorded her second double-double of the year (the other was versus Manhattan Christian) by also pulling down a team-leading 10 rebounds (nine on the defensive end). McCaskill hit 4-of-9 from the floor and also dished off a game-high seven assists. She also had a pair of steals.
 
Hayes was an efficient 5-of-8 shooting, going 2-for-2 from the free throw line.
 
Junior guard Naomi Rodriguez, a former Hooker High School standout, and Shay Audrain, a former Stratford High School product, both posted 10 points to round out the quintet of leading Aggie scorers. Rodriguez had three rebounds, as well.
 
OPSU narrowly missed a sixth double-digit scorer, as junior guard Laura Moya Demures put in nine points, buoyed by a 5-for-5 effort foul shooting. Vanessa Gonzalez had a nice all-around game of five points, four rebounds and three steals.
 
Sophomore guard Kaylee Morgan added six assists and two steals in the loss.
 
The Aggies will try to get back on track this Saturday (Feb. 1), when they host Texas Wesleyan University. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Anchor D Arena.