Lee (Tenn.) University scored 17 points off of 20 Oklahoma Baptist University turnovers to hold on for a 57-53 win. The Lady Flames advance to the quarterfinals for the second consecutive year, knocking off Oklahoma Baptist in the process. The Lady Bison defeated Lee in the quarterfinals last season 70-54.
The first half was a back-and-forth affair, with neither team taking a lead larger than four, until Kally Eldridge made both ends of a double bonus with 1:26 remaining on the clock. OBU’s Gabriell Mattox hit both shots of a one-and-one to cut the Lady Flames lead to four just before the half.
Lee pushed the lead out to eight points on a Kayla Carlisle field goal with 12:58 remaining in the second half, but the Lady Bison bounced back with an 8-0 run to tie the game at 43-43.
Lee’s Brooke McKinnon and Allison Rader both knocked down a pair of free throws each before Vedrana Milakovic hit the front end of a one-and-one for OBU. Katie Nelson knocked down a field goal with 3:22 remaining in the game to give the Lady Flames a five-point lead.
Gabriell Mattox would cut Lee’s lead to one with 32 seconds remaining, but the Lady Flames held off the Lady Bison with free throw shooting down the stretch.
The two squads combined for five ties and 11 lead changes during the contest.
The Lady Flames shot just 16-of-56 (0.286) from the field on the day and were out-rebounded by the Lady Bison 45-34. It was the 17 points off of turnovers and clutch free throw shooting down the stretch that sealed the win.
Lee was led in scoring by Rader’s 15 points, while Nelson was the only other Lady Flame in double-figures with 13 points.
Mattox recorded a double-double for the Lady Bison, scoring 16 points and grabbing 14 rebounds.
Lee improves to 30-5 on the season, while Oklahoma Baptist ends its season at 31-4.