OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma Panhandle State women's basketball team (3-12, 0-9 SAC) went on the road Saturday to play No. 23 Mid-America Christian (12-3, 7-2), where the Aggies played the hosts even through 26 minutes before falling short, 65-49, in the upset bid.
 
A solid first half saw OPSU generate good looks and score at all three levels as it largely outplayed the ranked MACU squad early.
 
The teams were tied at 16 after one quarter, and it was the Aggies who were ahead 32-23 late in the second period following a personal 7-0 run from an aggressive Tryssa Dowd.
 
The Evangels gained momentum towards the end of the half, though, storming back to tie the game at 32-all through 20 minutes of action.
 
Undeterred, OPSU continued to go punch-for-punch with Mid-America Christian in the early portions of the third frame. A layup by Emily Bray kept the game tied at 41-41 with four minutes remaining in the period, but the Evangels answered with a 20-0 run spanning well into the fourth quarter.
 
Zamari Reece broke the scoring drought with a pair of driving buckets, while Mar'kia Pratt and La'Tommas Johnson-Nash both had steals and layups late to bring the final score to 65-49.

On the game, Dowd tallied a team-best 11 points. Lyric Carpenter snatched nine rebounds to lead the Aggies, and La'Tommas Johnson Nash had a team-high four assists to go with nine points.
 
Brooklyn Aska was also a bright spot in her first start of the season, burying two triples. The freshman also recorded two assists, a block and a steal.

As a team, Panhandle State was a perfect 7-for-7 from the charity stripe. Defensively, the 65 points allowed are tied for the fewest the Aggies have given up to the Evangels in their last 14 matchups.
 
What's up next: OPSU returns home to Anchor D Arena on Thursday, Jan. 15, to play host to Oklahoma City University (7-9, 3-7) at 6 p.m.