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STILLWATER, Okla. – Oklahoma State’s women’s basketball team opened its 2014-15 campaign on Friday morning with a 76-65 victory over Loyola Marymount in front of 5,546 fans inside Gallagher-Iba Arena.
Lakota Beatty (Caddo/Lakota/Gros Ventre) got her first start of her career for the Cowgirls and added 9 points and 2 assists in the game. She also tallied 26 minutes of playing time.
The Cowgirls led by 10 on multiple occasions in the first half but were unable to shake the Lions, who shot 48 percent in the period. OSU grabbed momentum late, scoring the last five points of the half to take a 37-27 lead into the break.
However, LMU rattled off the first 10 points of the second half to tie the score before the Cowgirls answered with an 11-0 run of their own. OSU would extend its lead to 14 at 53-39 before the Lions scored the game’s next five to pull within single digits again.
With just under three minutes remaining, the Lions got a 3-pointer to make it a two-possession game at 66-61 before junior Brittney Martin put back on offensive rebound and sophomore Roshunda Johnson added a free throw to pad the Cowgirl margin.
Senior Liz Donohoe knocked down all four of her free-throw attempts in the game’s final 17 seconds to seal the victory.
Martin finished with 22 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and five steals, while Donohoe added 20 points.
Deanna Johnson led LMU with 22 points.
The Cowgirls will be back in action on Sunday when they host Texas Southern at 6 p.m. inside Gallagher-Iba Arena.
