GOODWELL, Okla. – After a pair of close Sooner Athletic Conference road losses to open its season, the Oklahoma Panhandle State University women's basketball team used some "home cooking" to get its first win of the year versus Central Christian College, 69-49, at Anchor D Arena. The game between the Aggies (1-2, 1-2 SAC) and the Tigers (2-6, 0-1 SAC) was a late addition to the schedule after both teams found themselves with open an open date to fill.
 
Once again it was senior forward – and native of Townsville, Australia – Cassia McCaskill leading the way for Panhandle State. The Aggies' Aussie import poured in 24 points and hit 50 percent (8-for-16) of her shots from the floor, including 2-of-4 from three-point range. McCaskill also had a team-best nine rebounds and made a pair of steals.
 
On the year, McCaskill is averaging a cool 24.0 points and 6.0 rebounds per game, all while shooting an efficient 51.0 percent from the floor, 47.4 percent from beyond the arc, and 78.6 from the free throw line.
 
The Aggies also received a nice break-out effort from freshman point guard Jo Quintero. Quintero, a local product from Guymon High School, had the best game of her brief college career, with 17 points on a 5-for-10 shooting effort. She also went 6-of-8 from the charity stripe, while grabbing four rebounds and making two steals.
 
For the third time in as many games this season, senior guard – and former Hooker High School standout - Naomi Rodriguez registered double-digit scoring. Rodriguez made all three of her field goals from three-point country, finishing the game with 10 points.
 
Sophomore center Morgan Williamson had a solid game with eight points and eight rebounds, connecting on 4-of-6 tries from the field. Laura Moya Demures added four points, while Tateum Jones, Alie Parkhurst and Zoe Salazar each tallied two points to round out OPSU's scoring.
 
Myra McCaskill grabbed six rebounds and Parkhurst five, as the Aggies had a slight edge, 48-47, on the glass. Jones and Myra McCaskill each had game-leading totals of four assists and four steals, as well.
 
Panhandle led the contest wire-to-wire, opening the game on a 9-0 run. OPSU led by as many as 27 points at the 3:06 mark of the fourth quarter on a short jumper by Quintero. The Aggies led at the half, 30-18, and held the Tigers to single digit scoring in both the first (5) and third (9) quarters.
 
"I'm proud of the way we came out and played," OPSU Head Coach Victor Esparza said. "Our effort and energy was great for 40 minutes. It was a great team win and I'm proud of them. We are going to enjoy this one and get ready for Saturday."
 
Panhandle will try to make it two straight victories on Saturday (Jan. 16) when it welcomes Southwestern Christian University to Goodwell for a SAC contest with a 2 p.m. tip-off. The Aggie men's game versus SCU will follow.