ARKADELPHIA The Ouachita Baptist University Lady Tigers defeated the Lady Zias of Eastern New Mexico University in a convincing 60-40 battle of the unbeatens on Saturday afternoon in OBU's Bill Vining Arena in the Roy and Christine Sturgis Physical Education Center. The win propelled coach Garry Crowder's team to a 5-0 record for the season, while the Zias suffered their first setback in a 5-1 campaign. For the most part, it was all over at halftime when OBU claimed a 38-13 lead. The Lady Tigers came out strong and held as much as a 25 point lead after 12 minutes of play. Senior transfer Jamie Scheppmann of Cove (Van-Cove) and the Lone Star Conference's pre-season player-of-the-year once again got the OBU momentum started with 15 of the first 27 points. In only 21 minutes of court activity, Scheppmann scored 18 points for the game on five of six from the field, including two for two for three points and six of seven from the free throw line. Ouachita stunned the Lady Zias with runs of 15-0 at 12:30 and a 12-0 run after 16 minutes of play, which eventually led to the comfortable lead at the half. At that point, OBU was hitting 58 percent of their field goal attempts (11 of 19), while holding the Zias to only five of 29 for 17 percent. The Lady Tigers showed their depth by emptying a talented bench in the second stanza. As a result of the adjustment, OBU fell to a 21 percent shooting average in the half on only four of 19. The Zias went eight of 25 in the second half. Ouachita continued its very good point guard play from sophomore Robyn Anders of Grapevine, TX (South Lake Carroll) who scored 13 points on one for seven from the field and 11 of 12 from the free throw line. Sophomore forward Tracy McBride of Springtown, TX led OBU in rebounds with eight as well as adding four points and three assists. Senior post Jeannie Kennedy of Bryant was the team's leading rebounder with six. As a team, the Lady Tigers shot 15 of 38 from the field including three of eight from behind the three point arc and 27 of 32 from the free throw line. OBU pulled down 19 rebounds and grabbed seven steals for the game. Katheryne Hickman led the Lady Zias with 12 points and seven rebounds, and as a team, ENMU shot 13 of 54 from the field for 24 percent, including one of four from the three point line and 13 of 18 from the free throw line. "The best factor of the game was that we were able to take them out of the offense," said Crowder. "I was very pleased with how our defense played in the first half." Crowder was also pleased that his team was able to defeat their fourth straight undefeated team. The Lady Tigers will next face the Henderson State University Lady Reddies (3-4) in a Battle of the Ravine on Tuesday, December 7 at 6 p.m. at the Sturgis Center. On Saturday, December 11 the Lady Tigers will host the Lady 'Riders from Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia. Tipoff for the non-conference game is at 4 p.m. |
