By Mike Tupa
mtupa@examiner-enterprise.com
For the fourth time this season the Oklahoma Wesleyan University women’s basketball game followed up a loss with a victory.
And, with time running out on the regular season, that’s a key strength.
Mary Hutchins hammered home 16 points and grabbed nine rebounds to energize the Lady Eagles past York (Neb.) College, 71-48, on Saturday, in Nebraska.
The win elevated the Lady Eagles to a 16-6 mark overall and 10-4 in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference.
Tiffany Rieger added 10 points and two assists, while Cheyenne Been canned three three-pointers and spooned out five assists to bolster OKWU’s attack.
On the defensive end, OKWU limited York to just 33-percent shooting (19-of-57), including only 4-of-22 marksmanship from three-point territory.
In fact, Hutchins amassed four three-pointers to match the entire long-distance total for York.
Leading 40-24 at halftime, OKWU never looked back. It put the finishing touch on the win by dominating the fourth quarter, 18-9.
But, it require a few minutes in the opening quarter for the Lady Eagles to zero in,
They bolted to an 8-2 lead, only to watch York claw back within one point, 8-7, with 5:29 left in the period.
OKWU answered with a 12-0 run, including back-to-back treys by Rieger and Hutchins.
But, York again made a spirited charge to get within six points, 20-14, with 1:05 left in the quarter.
But, Sarah Hajdukovich downed a two-pointer for the final bucket of the first half to push OKWU back ahead by eight, 22-14.
The Lady Eagles slowly extended their lead throughout the second period.
Briana Merchant netted a three-pointer late in the second quarter to elevate OKWU to its biggest lead, 40-24.
York had few answers — and none of them very effective — in the second half, as well.
Mark Molder coaches the Lady Eagles, who are scheduled to travel Wednesday to Sterling (Kan.).
Okla. Wesleyan (16-6, 10-4)
Tiffany Rieger 3-13 3-4 10, Daley Gay 1-3 0-0 2, Mary Hutchins 4-8 4-4 16, Karena Karges 0-1 0-0 0, Ashlie Rose 0-0 0-0 0, Sarah Short 2-5 0-0 4, Cassidy McNespey 0-0 0-0 0, Shakiaya Strong 0-4 0-0 0, Briana Merchant 2-5 0-0 5, Cheyenne Been 3-8 0-0 9, Grace Pospichal 1-3 0-0 3, Michaela Brantley 0-1 0-0 0, Dania Goodwin 3-10 0-2 6, Shania Pace 0-0 0-0 0, Sarah Hajdukovich 4-5 0-0 8, Ashton Burdick 0-2 0-0 0, Patience Gitau 3-3 2-2 8, Whitney Metker 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 26-71 9-12 71
York College (4-16, 1-13)
Ciara Williams 2-10 1-2 5, Kellie Fredendall 4-10 0-0 8, Cameron Parr 0-1 0-0 0, Sofia McGee 3-5 0-0 8, Justine Manjarrez 2-5 1-1 5, Ashley Rendon 2-5 0-0 4, Nakia Hackel 0-3 0-0 0, Kelsey Sharkey 3-9 1-2 9, Kendall Fike 2-5 0-0 4, Sarah Shafer 0-1 2-2 2, Kat Mosely 1-3 0-0 2, Haley Scoffield 0-0 1-2 1, Maya Herrera 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 19-57 6-9 48