COLUMBIA, Mo. – The Ottawa University women’s basketball team was defeated 79-69 by (RV) Stephens College on Saturday night. It was the second quarter that doomed the Braves. OU was outscored 26-12 in that quarter by the Stars.

Ottawa fell behind in quarter one to Stephens early and trailed 18-11 with 4:44 on the clock. OU cut into the lead and were within two points, 18-16, after a basket by Kennedy Bankett. The teams exchanged baskets in the quarter’s final two minutes, and the Stars took a 22-21 lead into the second.

The Braves tied the game in the opening minute of the second quarter on two Bankett free throws, 26-26. Stephens responded with a 17-3 run to take a 43-29 lead over OU with 3:02 left in the first half. Ottawa could not cut into the Stars’ double digit lead at the end of the second quarter and SC took a 48-33 lead into the locker room.

Stephens increased its lead to 20 points, 53-33, at the start of the third. Ottawa did not go away and cut into the SC lead. A 3-pt field goal by Janiyah Hendricks put OU within 62-49 with 1:28 left in the third. The teams exchanged baskets in the final minute of the third and Stephens took a 64-49 lead into the fourth.

In the first two minutes of the final quarter of play, the Braves were able to cut the Stephens’ lead to single digits. A basket by Bankett put OU within 66-57 with 8:01 remaining in the contest. Stephens scored the next three points to push its lead back to double figures, 69-57. But a 3-pt field goal by Hendricks cut the deficit to 69-60 with 5:41 left in regulation.

Stephens answered with a 9-0 run, increasing its lead back to double digits with just under two minutes to go in regulation, 78-60. Ottawa responded with a 9-1 run in the final 1:41 of the contest but time was not on OU’s side and as the final buzzer sounded, Stephens took the 79-69 victory.

Inside the Box Score

• The Braves shot 37.5 percent from the floor, 36.4 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 52 percent from the free throw line.
• OU had four players in double figures, led by Janiyah Hendricks’ 16 points off the bench.
• Kennedy Bankett scored 13 points and had four steals.
• Dominique Schutte finished the game with 12 points, three blocks, and three steals.
• Abbie Sextro came off the bench and scored 10 points and pulled down a team high seven rebounds.

Who is Next
Ottawa (1-1) returns to the court on Sunday, Nov. 3 against (RV) Columbia College in Columbia, Mo. Tip off is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.