Cortney Shewmaker led SBU with 17 points and six assists.

[box vs. OCU]

BOLIVAR, MO. ... Making a 17-2 run early in the second half put the game in Southwest Baptist University's (9-8) hands as they ran out to a 23-point lead over Oakland City (7-8) in a 77-62 win.  SBU was up 43-35 with 16:47 to go when they went on the 17-2 run.

SBU played a very sound game, overall, as they led from the beginning while shooting 49.2% from the floor and out rebounding OCU, 41-28.  SBU also tied the single game record for blocks with eight.  Amy Dodd had six of those eight blocks. 

Having four players in double figures, Cortney Shewmaker led SBU with 17 points.  Traci Bybee had 16 points and Amy Dodd added 12 while Courtney Creed had 10.  Casey Beavers led the Lady Bearcats with 12 rebounds and was two points short of her fifth double-double. 

It was the second half that made the difference in the game.  OCU cut the lead to seven at the 18:01 mark and SBU pushed the lead back to 10 on a Bybee 3-pointer.  Two free throws by OCU's Kim Sliwa brought the lead back to eight, 43-35.  It was at this point that SBU went on a 17-2 run to take command of the game with a 23-point lead over four minutes. 

Amy Dodd had six of SBU's record tying eight blocks vs. OCU.

OCU tied the game twice in the first four minutes.  With the game tied at four, SBU went on a 17-5 run for a 12-point lead over six minutes.  OCU did cut the lead to six, 35-29, with 00:04 left in the half but Shewmaker nailed a three-pointer at the buzzer to take a nine-point lead into the half, 38-29. 

SBU held OCU to 35% shooting from the floor and forced 15 turnovers. 

The Lady Bearcats will host Missouri Western in MIAA play at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, January 21, at the Meyer Sports Center.