Waxahachie, TX | January 10, 2026 — The Nelson University Lady Lions returned to the Sheaffer Center on Saturday afternoon, welcoming College of the Ozarks (Mo.) for a pivotal Sooner Athletic Conference matchup. Despite flashes of fight and timely momentum swings, Nelson was unable to overcome a strong, steady attack from the visitors, falling 68–45 in conference play.

College of the Ozarks set the tone early, jumping out to a quick first-quarter lead behind efficient shooting and physical play inside. Nelson answered with energy, sparked by timely perimeter shots and defensive stops, and clawed back within striking distance late in the second quarter. A burst from Paris Miller, who knocked down three triples in the second period, helped the Lady Lions keep pace heading into halftime.

Coming out of the break, the game turned into a grind. Ozarks leaned on its depth and interior presence, steadily stretching the margin in the third quarter. Nelson continued to compete possession by possession, battling on the glass and generating second-chance opportunities, but struggled to find consistent rhythm offensively against the visitors' disciplined defense.

The fourth quarter proved decisive as College of the Ozarks closed strong, capitalizing on turnovers and converting in transition to pull away. Nelson continued to play with effort until the final horn, with contributions across the lineup and bench, but the gap ultimately proved too much to overcome.

Paris Miller led Nelson in scoring with 11 points, while Kate Miller and Abby Boyce each added nine and eight points respectively. Defensively, Abby Boyce and Ashley Gonzalez provided energy with multiple blocks and hustle plays, while the Lady Lions showed resilience despite a challenging shooting night.

Next Up
The Lady Lions won't have long to dwell, as conference play continues on the road. Nelson heads north on Monday, January 12, for a 6:00 PM showdown in Fort Worth against cross-town rival Texas Wesleyan, looking to respond and gain momentum as SAC action rolls on.

Nelson University (formerly SA GU) 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-NELSON.