WAXAHACHIE, TEXAS (Feb. 21, 2013) -- Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU)  women's basketball team finished its conference season with an 80-54 win over Southwestern Assemblies of God University (SAGU) Thursday evening.

The win keeps the Saints one game ahead in the Red River Athletic Conference over second-place Wiley College (24-3/18-2) with a 20-2 overall and 27-2 conference record. Wiley has two conference games remaining on its schedule, so OLLU will have to wait until the conclusion of its season to find out the final standings in the conference and the seeds for the conference tournament. The Saints have clinched at least a tie with Wiley for first place and a share of the conference. However, if Wiley loses one game, OLLU will be declared sole conference regular season champion.

LSU-Shreveport (22-4/17-3) is in third place, followed by Texas Wesleyan University (19-9/14-7), University of St. Thomas (15-13/11-9), Langston University (10-15/10-10) and Huston-Tillotson University (12-19/10-12) – all have clinched playoff berths.

Head Coach Christopher Minner said, "It was a good half of defensive intensity. We dictated the tempo of the game and got out to a big lead. Our pressure was good since we were able to force 38 turnovers. I am proud of the team for going 20-2 in conference."

 

OLLU's Chelsea Solis set the Saints in motion to start the game after she drained a 3-pointer with a little less than a minute past the start. The Lady Lions took the 4-3 lead after SAGU's Kassy Cox made a shot and was fouled in the process. After that, the Saints embarked on a 14-0 run to lead 24-6. It wasn't until the nine-minute mark that SAGU was able to get its score to double digits when the Saints led 32-10. The Saints eased through the rest of the period to close out the half with the 47-27 lead.

The closest the Lady Lions got to the Saints In the second half was 17 points, and the Saints' biggest lead was 31 points. SAGU's Bethany Krock got the last points of the game, when she sank a basket with 16 seconds left in the game.

The Saints shot 36 percent from the field, 18 percent from 3-point range and 67 percent from the free-throw line. They forced 38 turnovers, while committing 21. Mercedes Dobson was the Saints high scorer with 12 points, all scored from 3-point range. Both Sam Offord and Nikkia Davis scored 11 points, while Solis ended with 10 points.

SAGU shot 40 percent from the field, 21 percent from 3-point range and 70 percent from the free-throw line. However, the Saints shot 21 more shots from the field, including 19 more from 3-point range. In addition, the Saints had 27 opportunities from the free-throw line, while SAGU had 10. Their highest scorer was Brittany Griffin, who finished with 20 points.

The Saints will play their final game of the season on Feb. 25, when they host Northwood University in a nonconference game. Prior to the start of the game, the University will honor seniors Alisha Crump, Nikkia Davis and Treshenia Solomon. Game time is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.