BETHANY -- It was a very hard fought match-up at home for Southern Nazarene (15-7,12-6 GAC) as they fell to Southwestern Oklahoma State (17-6,12-6 GAC) 63-51 on Saturday afternoon. 
 
A lack of offensive production hurt the Crimson Storm all game, and is what ultimately led to their downfall. SNU lost the lead off of a buzzer beater early in the first quarter, and was never able to retain it. The loss for SNU snaps a nine-game home winning streak as the Storm now hold a 9-1 record this season inside the Sawyer Center.
 
Despite the loss, there are still many reasons the Crimson Storm can look back at proudly. For the second straight season and the third time in the last four seasons, Southern Nazarene is headed to Bartlesville for the conference tournament. With a NWOSU loss today, SNU has clinched their trip.
 
Back in Bethany this afternoon, the Storm never lacked intensity all game, and fought until the final buzzer. The Crimson Storm also showed off their high-flying defense yet again, only allowing the Bulldogs to shoot 36.1% percent from the field, and forcing them into 22 turnovers. 
 
Jaycee Soap again led the Crimson Storm in scoring as she does almost every game. Soap scored 12 points in the game, and also had sticky fingers, with three steals. Kennedy Gillette also had a good game with 11 points, and nine rebounds. Sonia Sarda stuffed the stat sheet as she put up four points, four assists, six rebounds, and four steals. Alexus Jones put up some outstanding numbers as she had nine points, and also led the team with a season-high 14 rebounds.
 
SNU led most of the first quarter because of their great defense. To start the period, SNU forced SWOSU to start just 2-of-11 from the field. SWOSU took the lead on a buzzer beater to end the first quarter. In the second, offense was at a premium for SNU as they only put up six points in the frame. Going into halftime the score was 30-21, as SWOSU went into the 2nd half with the lead.
 
SNU was much better offensively in the third quarter. They even went on a 10 point run to cut Bulldogs' 13 point lead to just three. This run lit the crowd on fire, as it seemed like SNU was finally starting to put it all together. Going into the last quarter of play SWOSU had the lead, with the scoreboard reading 40-45. 
 
In the 4th, the Crimson Storm fought their hardest to keep pace with SWOSU, but the task was just too big. SNU ended up losing the very physical match-up 63-51.
 
The Crimson Storm will look to get back in the winning column next week as they travel to Arkansas to face the Harding Lady Bisons (16-8, 13-5 GAC) on Thursday night. Tip off is scheduled for 5:30pm.