WEATHERFORD, OK – History was made twice tonight as the Southern Nazarene Women's basketball team beat the No. 1 seeded Southwestern Oklahoma State Bulldogs for the second time this season, earning an appearance in the Great American Conference championship game.
Tonight's win marks the first time that SNU has made a GAC championship appearance and beaten SWOSU multiple times in a season since joining the league.
The Crimson Storm (11-7, 10-7 GAC) commanded their way to 88-74 win to knock off the top-ranked Bulldogs (17-3, 16-3 GAC) inside the Pioneer Cellular Center on Friday night.
Southern Nazarene found themselves in an uncanny position as their quarterfinal matchup against Henderson State was cancelled due to COVID-19 protocols. This cancellation would thrust SNU into a semi-final contest against the Bulldogs.
A suffocating Storm defense held a talented SWOSU team to just 36% shooting from the field. SNU forced the Bulldogs to commit 22 turnovers, 13 of those accounting for steals. The Storm would dominate down low as they compiled 40 points in the paint, denied six shots, and came down with a total of 41 rebounds.
Down the stretch would be Southern Nazarene's ability to knock down shots as they finished the game shooting 56% from the field. The three-point line was generous to the Storm as they knocked down 10-of-18 (56%), most of those coming when they needed it most.
Out of the gate, SWOSU jumped to a 6-0 lead with three straight mid-range jumpers. SNU would answer with a 10-0 run of their own to overcome the Bulldogs lead. The Storms's success continued through the inaugural quarter as they went 4-for-4 from the arc and shot 56.25% to lead 23-17 going into the second.
Southwestern managed to draw a bundle of fouls in the second quarter as they would hit on nine of their 10 attempts. This would aid them as they compiled 20 points but would trail the Crimson Storm 41-37 going into the break.
In the past contests against SWOSU this season, SNU had come out and allowed the Bulldogs to take commanding leads. Tonight was different as the Storm scored the first three buckets to open the third. Southern Nazarene would then go on to post their highest scoring-quarter in the game with 27 points on 12-of-17 (70.59%) shooting from the field.
The Bulldogs would attempt a comeback, but the Crimson Storm's stifling defense managed to hold them off long enough to claim their first-ever GAC Championship game berth.
The Jones' of SNU owned the night. Freshman Payton Jones put up 22 points on 7-of-12 shooting and drained four threes in the contest. Payton Jones would also grab seven rebounds, dish out three assists, and steal two balls. Alexus Jones collected 20 points on 7-of-12 shooting and knocked down a couple of threes of her own. Alexus Jones had her hands everywhere on her way to seven rebounds, a team-high seven assists, and three steals.
Senior Abby Niehues shot an efficient 7-of-9 from the floor on her way to 16 total points. Niehues, as she has done all season, commanded the paint with five denials and a team-high eight rebounds. Cassandra Awatt seemed to be the spark at the right times as she dropped 13 points, collected seven rebounds, and registered two assists.
Emily Monaghan and Kennedy Gillette would round things off for the Storm as they posted nine and eight points, respectively. Monaghan would also collect three steals and three rebounds. Gillette also mustered up five rebounds, three assists, and one steal.
Southern Nazarene will have a couple sleeps before they have a chance at a GAC Championship on Sunday against Southeastern Oklahoma State (13-7, 11-7 GAC). Tip-off is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
