Goodwell, OK. – The Oklahoma Panhandle State University Aggies women's basketball team gave their fans an exciting show on Thursday night but ultimately came up short, falling 54-51 to John Brown University in a tightly contested Sooner Athletic Conference matchup.
Despite a strong fourth-quarter surge, the Aggies couldn't overcome a mid-game scoring drought that allowed the Golden Eagles to build a lead. With this loss, the Aggies move to a 1-12 overall record and 1-9 in conference play.
The Aggies intensely opened the game, edging John Brown 14-13 in the first quarter. Lyric Carpenter led the charge, scoring 13 points and showcasing her ability to drive to the basket and convert from the free-throw line. However, the Aggies struggled in the second quarter, managing only six points, allowing John Brown to take a 28-20 lead into halftime.
Oklahoma Panhandle State regained momentum in the third quarter, outscoring John Brown 15-17, thanks to strong perimeter shooting from Heidi Rodriguez, who drained three 3-pointers en route to a 10-point performance. Gaby Uribe added to the offensive push with six points, keeping the Aggies within striking distance.
The Aggies mounted an impressive fourth-quarter rally, led by a standout performance from Zamari Reece, who came off the bench to score a game-high 15 points. The Aggies outscored the Golden Eagles 16-9 in the final period, but a critical turnover in the final seconds sealed their fate.
The Aggies played solid defense throughout the game, holding John Brown to just nine points in the fourth quarter. However, offensive rebounds and second-chance points proved to be a difference-maker, with John Brown outrebounding the Aggies 38-18 overall.
Coach Wiltzius highlighted the team's defensive strength: "To hold John Brown to 54 points really shows how the girls were able to follow our game plan. We were ready to go today, but now we must figure out how to play 40 minutes of basketball and finish on top."
Upcoming
The Aggies will match up against College of the Ozarks on Saturday, January 4, 2025, at Anchor D Arena in Goodwell, OK, at 2:00 PM.
