GOODWELL, Okla. — The Oklahoma Panhandle State women's basketball team (6-21, 3-19 SAC) assisted on 84% of its field goals in the season finale Saturday in Anchor D Arena versus Science & Arts (19-9, 14-8), though it was defeated, 72-51.
 
OPSU's excellent ball movement was present throughout the first quarter, as it got great looks from all three levels but could not connect on shots. Meanwhile, USAO's pace and aggressive defense helped it to a 21-5 lead after one quarter.
 
The Aggies started to get rewarded for their offensive execution in the second period, a frame which it won, 19-16. Tryssa Dowd started the quarter with a pair of baskets, while Heidi Rodriguez and Lyric Carpenter splashed in consecutive three-pointers moments later to cut the deficit to 31-20.
 
By halftime, Rodriguez had notched four assists and Carpenter had tied for the first half-high with nine points. Dowd was also past the halfway mark to a double-double through two quarters.
 
Poor shooting returned for much of the third quarter until Rodriguez and Breya Beck got a three-pointer and mid-range jumper to fall, respectively, late in the period. A late triple from USAO's Evangelia Davlakou gave the Drovers a 59-32 cushion heading into the fourth, however.
 
Panhandle State put up its second 19-point quarter of the game in the fourth frame, which was kickstarted by Dowd scoring eight straight for the Aggies.
 
With just over five minutes remaining, Beck had a highlight-reel play in which she saved an offensive rebound from going out of bounds by directing it towards Rodriguez. The freshman then relocated in the corner, and Rodriguez found her for a contested triple that swished home.
 
The strong offense continued inside for OPSU, but the season's scoring ended on a triple from Gaby Uribe, which was assisted by La'Tommas Johnson-Nash. Johnson-Nash had a well-rounded final line of four points, six rebounds, four assists, two steals and a block.
 
Dowd and Carpenter led the Aggies in scoring with 13 and 11, with Dowd also notching two blocks. Beck accompanied Dowd with a pair of blocks herself.
 
The solid offense was often set up by Rodriguez, who obliterated her career high in assists with eight dimes. Rodriguez did not commit a turnover either, with OPSU turning it over just 13 times as a team on the day.
 
Postgame, current student-assistant coach Carolyn Olvera, who played in 44 games and made 11 starts during her career with the Aggies, was celebrated as part of the Senior Day festivities. Olvera totaled 94 points, 33 steals and 27 assists in her two seasons as a guard with OPSU.
 
During the ceremony, cheer seniors Jair Cruz and Aracely Duran were also honored for their four and three years of committed members in OPSU's cheerleading program.