TULSA, Okla. - The Southern Utah women's basketball team went on the road once again this weekend, taking on the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles in Oklahoma. Despite leading 34-31 at halftime, the Lady T-Birds couldn't hold on for their first road win of the season, falling 64-59.
ORU opened the game with a 6-0 before the Thunderbirds were able to get on the board with two free throws from Kiana Thomas. The Golden Eagles were able to extend their lead to as much as 10 during the opening quarter, with the Thunderbirds trailing 14-23 at the end of the first.
Coming out of the quarter break, Breanu Reid scored three straight baskets to bring the Thunderbirds within three. Southern Utah kept chipping away until Reid was able to tie the game at 28-28 on a free throw with 2:45 left in the quarter. Rebecca Cardenas gave the T-Birds their first lead of the afternoon with a rare four-point play to make it 32-28. The Thunderbirds would go into the half with a 34-31 lead.
Reid had 13 points and was 6-for-12 in the first half for the second consecutive game.
The Thunderbirds were able to maintain their lead for most of the third quarter, pushing it to as much as five on four different occasions. With 3:53 remaining in the quarter, ORU started to put together a run, tying the game at 43-43 and taking a 45-43 lead with 2:02 to go. They would go into the final 10 minutes with a two-point lead.
After a free throw from Ashley Larsen, Cardenas gave the Thunderbirds the lead back with a layup to make it 48-47 SUU. That would be the last time Southern Utah would lead in the game however, as the Golden Eagles were able to jump out to a seven-point lead with :33 left in the game.
Cardenas knocked down a three-point basket to cut the lead to four with :30 remaining and after two ORU free throws, put in another one to make it 59-62 with 10 seconds to go. Two more free throws from the Golden Eagles would make it the final score of 64-59.
Cardenas led the Thunderbirds with 14 points and four steals. Larsen and Thomas had seven rebounds each.
ORU's Lakota Beatty led all scorers in the game with 20 points.
The Thunderbirds will return home for their next two games, starting with a midday matinee against Utah Valley on Tuesday December 4.
Tickets
Tickets for the Lady T-Birds' next home game on December 4 against Utah Valley are available at tbirdtickets.com or the America First Event Center Ticket Office. Fans can also purchase a Women's Sports Pass for access to all 2018-19 home games.
Follow Us
Stay up to date during the 2018-19 Lady T-Bird Basketball season by following @SUUWBasketball on Twitter and Instagram and liking the Southern Utah Women's Basketball page on Facebook.
