University of St. Thomas Athletics
14-10,6-4Summit League
Oral Roberts
16-7,7-3Summit League
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Game Leaders
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Fourth quarter rally comes up short in Tommies loss at Oral Roberts
2/8/2024 9:47:00 PM | Women's Basketball
All five starters score in double figures for St. Thomas
TULSA, OK. – The University of St. Thomas women's basketball team is no stranger to close games. The Tommies meeting with Oral Roberts University on Thursday was certainly no different. After a thrilling victory at home in early January, St. Thomas was looking for a series on Thursday. Despite a furious fourth quarter rally, the Tommies were unable to leave Oklahoma with a win, as they fell to the Golden Eagles by a final score of 80-73. Following the game, St. Thomas' overall record is now 14-10 with a 6-4 record in Summit League play.
RECAP:
The Tommies put together a strong opening 10 minutes of play, as they jumped out to a slim 17-15 lead over Oral Roberts after the first quarter of play. Amber Scalia (Stillwater, Minn. / Stillwater) once again led the St. Thomas offense, scoring five points in the first, while Jo Langbehn (Elk River, Minn. / Elk River) and Lizzie Steingraber (New London, Wis. / New London) added four apiece. However, the Tommies defense hit a snag in the second quarter. St. Thomas managed to score just 10 points against the Golden Eagles defense, eight of which were scored by Angelina Hammond (Hopkins, Minn. / Hopkins).
Oral Roberts took advantage of the Tommies offensive skid, as the Golden Eagles scored 22 points in the second quarter alone. In fact, after shooting just .350 from the floor in the first, Oral Roberts shot .471 as a team in the second quarter, helping the team walk into the locker room at half with a 37-27 advantage. St. Thomas, meanwhile, was scoreless for the final two minutes of the quarter, despite rallying to cut the Golden Eagles lead to 27-23 with under four minutes to spare.
The Tommies looked to right the ship to open the third quarter, whittling the lead to nine points at 40-31 on a layup by Hammond. However, despite St. Thomas' best attempts, the team could never quite pull within reach of Oral Roberts. Every time the Tommies seemed to grab momentum, the Golden Eagles snagged it right back, making basket after basket to pull ahead 57-45 entering the fourth. Oral Roberts continued to pound on the points at the start of the final quarter and led 72-59 with 3:49 remaining in regulation.
At that moment, something changes for St. Thomas, as the makings of a rally started to form in Tulsa. It started with a three from Jordyn Glynn (Grand Meadow, Minn. / Grand Meadow), pulling the Tommies within 10 at 72-62. Still, Oral Roberts maintained its 10+ point cushion until the one minute mark. With exactly one minute remaining, St. Thomas outscored the Golden Eagles 7-1, using baskets from Scalia and Langbehn to make it 78-71 with 27 left in regulation. Free throws by Langbehn pulled St. Thomas within five at 78-73 with eight seconds remaining on the clock.
Down five with only seconds to play, the Tommies were forced to inbound. Jade Hill (Minneapolis, Minn. / South) immediately tagged Hannah Cooper, who downed both free throws to extend Oral Roberts lead to 80-73. Still, there was still hope for a quick inbound play. On the draw, Scalia took her chance at a three, but the ball bounced off the rim, as St. Thomas' comeback came up just short, 80-73.
TOP TOMMIES
- Amber Scalia (Stillwater, Minn. / Stillwater) and Jo Langbehn (Elk River, Minn. / Elk River) led the team with 14 points each. Langbehn tallied another double-double with 11 rebounds, while Scalia was credited with a season-high six assists on the night.
- Jade Hill (Minneapolis, Minn. / South) scored 13 points in the loss, while both Jordyn Glynn (Grand Meadow, Minn. / Grand Meadow) and Angelina Hammond (Hopkins, Minn. / Hopkins) scored in double figured. Glynn closed the game with 11 points, and Hammond scored 10, including eight in the second quarter alone.
UP NEXT
St. Thomas will return to Schoenecker Arena for its next Summit League contest when the Tommies host the University of Denver. Tip off is scheduled for 12:05 p.m. in St. Paul, Minnesota.
