Hear from Head Coach Jillian Flores Bennett: https://www.youtube.com/embed/913ILSpqLNM?enablejsapi=1&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ollusaintsathletics.com

Women’s basketball opened its 2021-2022 home schedule with an impressive 73-61 win over Southwestern Assemblies of God University (SAGU). The Saints are now 1-2, while SAGU drops to 2-1.

History

In 12 matchups, the Saints are 11-1 against the Lions. The only loss came in 2010. In their last game in 2019, the Saints won 82-46.

Basics

The Saints opened the game struggling as they missed their first nine shots. The first point came at the sixth minute on a free throw from Cormia Lewis (SO/Houston, Texas). The Lions took advantage of the Saints’ nervousness and went up by as high as 12-3 before the Saints set their game plan in motion. After a three-pointer from Lewis, both teams went on a dry spell missing a total of three shots each. The Saints continued to add free throws to the board to move to 14-11 before Miranda Villegas (JR/Levelland, Texas) scored the team’s second field goal on a fast-break layup and the Saints trailed by just one point at 14-13 at the end of the first quarter.

Natalia Trevino (JR/Laredo, Texas), who would go on to be the team’s leading scorer, recorded her first points in the second quarter and drew a foul, which gave the Saints their first lead of the game at 16-14. Emiko Hemphill (SR/San Antonio, Texas) scored two to tie the game at 18, and Trevino added a three to give the Saints their biggest lead so far at 21-18. Trevino added six more field goals to push the Saints ahead at 31-22 with less than two minutes remaining in the half. A few more attempts by both teams finished out the second period with the Saints leading 31-27.

The Lions fought back to tie the score at 33 and then regained the lead at 36-33. Keviona Barber (SR/Chicago, Ill.) got the Saints to within a point after a steal that took her down the court for a layup, and the Saints trailed 35-36. The Lions went on a 6-0 run to pull ahead 42-35. After a timeout, Alanis Macias (FR/San Antonio, Texas)’ three-pointer drew the Saints back to within four, but the Lions continued to make baskets to maintain their lead at 46-40. Trevino and Strawhorn connected on three-pointers to get the Saints to within two and a shot from the Lions closed out the third quarter leading the Saints 54-50. The Saints dominated the period outscoring the Lions 23-7.

After two minutes had passed, the Saints tied the score at 56 with a layup from Makayla White (JR/Midwest City, Okla.). Hemphill grabbed an offensive rebound and scored to give the Saints the 59-56 lead. She made another layup after her steal, and the Saints pushed ahead 61-56. Trevino made a three-pointer and a pair of free throws gave the Saints the 65-56 lead. The Lions threatened after a three, but their efforts proved fruitless as the Saints held on to win 73-61.

Offensive/defensive standouts

Trevino led the Saints in scoring with 21 points, including 8-of-21 from the field, 3-of-10 threes and 2-of-3 from the charity stripe. Hemphill added 15 points, while Barber scored 12. The Lions were led by Kyla McMinn, who scored 15 points, followed by Jaycie Brisco with 13.

Strawhorn and Trevino marked two assists and Barber had three steals. Totals for OLLU were six assists and 12 steals. Trevino added two blocks.

Rylee Lavender and Jaycie Brisco had three assists each for SAGU. Lavender added three steals. Totals for SAGU were eight assists and seven steals.

Inside the box

OLLU combined for 25-of-66 shooting for 37.9 percent, 6-of-29 from three-point range for 20.7 percent and 17-of-24 from the free-throw line for 70.8 percent.

The Lions combined for 24-of-58 from the field for 41.4 percent, 5-of-17 three-pointers for 29.4 percent and 8-of-10 from the charity stripe for 80.0 percent

The Saints grabbed 37 rebounds while the Lions collected 39. OLLU forced 24 turnovers and committed 14.

Up next

The Saints play in Plainview, Texas, next against Loyola University, the NAIA’s No. 23 team, on Nov. 12. The following day, the Saints will face Wayland Baptist University, the NAIA’s No. 8 team.