Waxahachie, TX | January 29, 2026 — With the Sheaffer Center buzzing and cabin fever officially shaken off, the Nelson University Lady Lions delivered a gritty 63–56 Sooner Athletic Conference victory over Oklahoma Panhandle State University on Thursday night, feeding off the energy of a crowd ready to heat things back up after a week of winter weather.

The contest opened with OPSU striking first, but Nelson weathered the early push and settled in defensively. After trailing 14–10 at the end of the first quarter, the Lady Lions flipped the momentum in the second, tightening the screws on the defensive end and forcing tough possessions. Nelson held OPSU to just eight points in the period and went into halftime trailing by only two, setting the stage for a second-half surge. 

Coming out of the locker room, Nelson found its rhythm. The Lady Lions poured in 20 third-quarter points, moving the ball with purpose and attacking the paint to seize control. Abby Boyce anchored the effort with a strong all-around performance, leading Nelson with 16 points while battling inside on both ends. Paris Miller added 12 points and was a steady presence throughout, while Kate Miller chipped in 11 points and delivered timely plays in key moments. 

OPSU refused to go quietly, matching Nelson point-for-point in the fourth quarter, but the Lady Lions stayed composed down the stretch. Defensive stops, smart possessions, and clutch free throws sealed the win as Nelson pushed its advantage to as many as 14 in the final period before closing out the seven-point victory.

Nelson finished the night with a balanced attack, matching OPSU with 32 points in the paint while forcing 18 turnovers and converting those miscues into valuable points. The win keeps the Lady Lions firmly in the SAC race as they continue to build momentum at home. 

Next Up:
The Lady Lions return to the Sheaffer Center on Saturday, January 31 at 2:00 PM for another SAC showdown as they host Wayland Baptist University (Texas) in Waxahachie. Fans are encouraged to bring the same energy as Nelson looks to keep the home-court heat rolling. 

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.