by SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Lakota Beatty (Caddo/Lakota/Gros Ventre) tied the overall Summit League Tournament record with seven three-point makes in a game as the ORU women’s basketball team knocked off Western Illinois 68-64 Sunday afternoon.
After starting the game with a five point deficit, the Golden Eagles sparked a 10-0 run to take the lead and keep it throughout the first quarter. The Golden Eagles hit three key long-range buckets and led 15-11 at the end of the first. ORU’s defense held Western Illinois to 24 percent shooting from the field in the opening period. The defense continued strong in the second quarter and held the Leathernecks to nine points and 12 percent shooting. Western Illinois shot 18 percent overall in the first half while ORU shot 33 percent and led 32-20 at the break.
ORU scored 20 points in the third quarter and Lakota Beatty led the way with eight points going 2-for-4 from long range. Western Illinois cut the deficit to 10 at the end of the third and scored 22 points. The Leathernecks shot 47 percent from the field in the third. Western Illinois out-scored the Golden Eagles 22-16 in the fourth quarter and shot 53 percent from the field. With 1:17 to play, the Leathernecks cut the deficit to three. With defensive stops and free throws down the stretch by Katie Kirkhartand Rylie Torrey, the Golden Eagles extended the lead back to four and forced two Leatherneck turnovers to seal the game.
Beatty led the Golden Eagles with 25 points on the day. She tied the Summit League Tournament record for three-point makes in a game with seven. With 16 three-point attempts, Beatty is now second all-time in the Summit League Tournament record book. Kirkhart, Lippe and Regan Schumacher each finished the day with nine points. Overall, the Golden Eagles shot 40 percent from the field and 38 percent from long range.
Four Leathernecks scored in double-figures. Olivia Kaufmann led Western Illinois with 16 points and eight boards on the day. All-Summit League Second Team member, Taylor Higginbotham, went 5-for-15 overall on the day for 15 points. Annabel Graettinger and Kyra Washington each finished with 11 points. Western Illinois shot 33 percent overall from the field and 22 percent from three-point range.
THE LEADERS
Oral Roberts: Beatty scored 25 points on the day. She and Schumacher each had nine rebounds.
