BETHANY, Okla. — Southern Nazarene picked up right where they left off before the holiday break, keeping their winning streak alive after defeating Ouachita Baptist 76-56 inside the Sawyer Center.
Heading into the holiday break, the Storm (8-3, 5-0) worked to a six-game win streak, highlighted by a 4-0 conference record after defeating Southwestern Oklahoma State at the end of the semester. SNU proved their consistency in the win over the Tigers (4-5, 1-4 GAC) Thursday evening, powered by 10 total three-pointers and 12 steals on the defensive end that turned into 30 points off turnovers.
The Tigers tested the Crimson Storm's defense right from first tip, charging down the court on every possession in search of quick hitters. Ouachita Baptist knocked down a couple of threes midway through the first quarter, building a 17-12 lead with two minutes remaining. A Lillie Smith three-ball followed by a Cassandra Awatt free throw put the Storm down one 17-16 as the 10-minute buzzer sounded.
Ouachita Baptist wasted no time at the start of the second quarter, scoring a quick five points in the opening minute. Smith silenced the comeback, splashing two back-to-back threes to put in SNU back up by two at 24-22. Awatt excited the Sawyer Center at the four-minute marker, hitting Giddey on the cut for a quick bucket and then scoring one of her own after picking up a steal in the backcourt, putting SNU up by three. Ouachita continued to challenge SNU as possessions were exchanged, tying the game multiple times in a span of two minutes. Now up by five with 10 seconds remaining, Hannah Giddey found Nefer Leon on the cut, laying the ball in just as the buzzer sounded, finishing the half up 42-35 over the Tigers.
After two Payton Jones free throws, Lauryn Reither hit one from downtown, helping SNU to a 12-point lead to start the second half. Ouachita continued to fight SNU's lead, but successful trips to the charity stripe by Giddey and Jones pushed the Storm even further up, reaching a 53-38 lead at the halfway point. Both squads went scoreless over two minutes, but threes from Leon and freshman Carley Gasaway awakened the offense in the final minutes, giving SNU the nine-point lead at the end of the third.
It was a game of runs to start the final quarter as the Storm and the Tigers exchanged buckets in transition. Jones, Reither, and Giddey recorded a couple of shots midway through, helping SNU stay atop with the 73-56 lead. Action stalled from then on and SNU held the ball in their final possession, making it a final 76-56 victory over Ouachita Baptist.
Giddey led SNU in scoring with 14 points followed by four rebounds, four assists, three blocks, and two steals.
Gasaway caused issues for the Tigers from the three-point line, knocking down three in the contest to award her 13 total points. Gasaway also grabbed four boards and an assist.
Smith was the other Storm member in double-digit scoring, recording 11 points on the evening brought on by three buckets from beyond the arc. Smith also had four boards to go along with an assist and a steal.
Awatt was all over the stat sheet for the Storm, recording nine points, eight boards, six assists, and three steals. Jones also tallied in multiple categories, scoring eight and adding in two rebounds, an assist, and three steals.
Emily Monaghan had seven points combined with three rebounds and an assist. Reither also had seven points to go along with three boards, four assists, and three steals.
Nefer Leon also scored seven while grabbing three rebounds and tallying two assists and a steal.
SNU will remain at home for another conference matchup as they welcome Henderson State for the first time this season Saturday, January 7th at 1:00 p.m. The Reddies have achieved a 3-2 conference record in the early going of conference play, recently losing to Oklahoma Baptist Thursday night.
