Box Score
PLAINVIEW, Texas — If it's not one it will be the other. The depth for No. 16 Southern Nazarene is starting to finally show in the second half of the conference season. SNU had its third different leading scorer in as many games in a 77-71 win over Wayland Baptist, Thursday night.
Oumoul Thiam scored a career-high 28 points and did not miss much all night. The junior went 9-for-14 from the field and drained three of her five attempts from beyond arc. She was also 7-for-8 from the charity stripe, pulled down three rebounds and dished out a pair of assists. Thiam had 16 points in the second half and was a perfect 6-for-6 from the line after the break.
Southern Nazarene led by just one, 34-33, at halftime after struggling from the field. SNU shot just 12-for-34 in the first half, but the Storm held WBU under 40 percent from the field and turned the ball over just five times. SNU picked up the pace in the second, firing 48.1 percent (13-for-27) and forced eight turnovers. The Storm were also 3-for-6 from 3-point range in the second half.
SNU never led by more than seven in the second half and that wasn't until late in the game. SNU opened the second half with four straight points to take a 38-33 lead and were up 40-35 when Wayland went on a 9-3 run to lead 42-41.
SNU fired right back with a 9-2 run, capped by a pair of Martin free throws, to take a 50-44 lead with 13:42 left. The Flying Queens answered right back with a 10-3 run to lead 54-53. WBU used another 9-2 run to take a 63-60 lead with 5:14 to play, but a
Samantha O'Shields layup sparked a 13-3 break to give SNU its biggest lead of the game at 73-66 with 1:02 on the clock.
Wayland Baptist cut it to two with 53 seconds remaining, but SNU put it away with four free throws and tough defense in the final minute.
Southern Nazarene, who moved to 16-5 overall and 10-3 in the SAC, will take on No. 9 Lubbock Christian in the NAIA Game of the Week to complete the West Texas road trip. Tip is set for 1 p.m. inside the Rip Griffin Center.
