November 14, 2024

Oklahoma City – With the Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC) season underway, the Nelson University Lady Lions embarked on their first conference battle of the season Thursday evening, taking on the Oklahoma City University Stars. Despite a spirited effort, the Lady Lions fell 71-52 in a game that showcased their defensive prowess.
 

Lady Lions Review 
The Lady Lions struck first, with Neeley Tilley-Bedick lighting up the scoreboard early, driving past defenders with her swift movements and displaying her signature "gate-steal-and-score" approach. Tilley-Bedick proved to be a standout, finishing with a team-high 18 points, shooting an impressive 7-of-14 from the field, including 4-of-8 from beyond the arc. Her aggressive start set the tone, as the Lady Lions fought to establish control through a mix of zone and man-to-man defenses that kept the Stars on edge.

The game saw a tightly contested first quarter, with Nelson edging out the Stars 19-18. However, the momentum shifted in the second quarter, where Oklahoma City outscored the Lady Lions 15-4. Despite their best efforts to regain ground, Nelson University struggled to find offensive consistency, scoring only 16 points in the third quarter and finishing the game with a 1-for-9 performance from the free-throw line.

Kate Miller added to the offensive drive with 11 points, showcasing her finesse in ball handling and accurate shooting from the mid post, while Kyla McMinn contributed with her tenacious play, racking up two rebounds and two assists. Wendy Clemmons, the Lady Lions' floor general, played her part in keeping the Stars at bay, grabbing four rebounds and snatching two steals.
 

Key Game Stats
The Lady Lions excelled in forcing turnovers, scoring 20 points off Oklahoma City's mistakes. However, the Stars capitalized on second-chance opportunities, scoring 14 points from offensive rebounds compared to Nelson's three. Oklahoma City's bench also made a substantial impact, adding 20 points to their tally, while the Lady Lions recorded 14 bench points.

Looking Ahead
With this first SAC game behind them, the Lady Lions shift their focus to Saturday, November 16th, when they return to the Sheaffer Center to take on Mid-America Christian University at 2 PM. 

Nelson University (formerly SAGU) is a private Christian university, established in 1927 by P.C. Nelson. The University is located 30 minutes south of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex in Waxahachie, Texas, and offers more than 70 associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees on campus or online. For more information, visit www.nelson.edu or by calling 1-888-YES-SAGU.