Women's Basketball Loses in Final Minutes Versus HTU

AUSTIN, TEXAS (Dec. 9, 2023) – The Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) women's basketball team dropped a close game against Huston-Tillotson University (HTU) 56-54 on Saturday. The Saints move to 3-4 overall and 2-1 in the Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC). The Rams remain undefeated at 5-0 overall and 3-0 in conference play.

Head Coach Tanya Ray commented, "I'm disappointed in the loss today. We didn't have a good start to the game and made too many mental mistakes down the stretch."

History

The Saints were 30-2 against the Rams prior to the game.

Basics

The Saints fell in the final minutes to the Rams on Saturday afternoon. The Saints shot great from the field in the first half at 63.2 percent. The Rams kept up with the Saints after shooting 57.1 percent from three-point range with eight offensive rebounds. HTU took a six-point lead into halftime and the Saints struggled from the free throw line hitting 3-of-9. Kalista Niu had eight points at the break and Tiffany Lopez added seven rebounds. 

OLLU outscored the Rams in the third quarter and cut their advantage to only five points. The Saints came within two points of tying the contest  in the final frame but never led. Evangeline Hernandez made a layup for the Saints with 25 seconds left to bring the team within two points. The Saints missed a three-point shot for the advantage in the final seconds and HTU held on to win. 

Offensive/defensive standouts

Lopez led the Saints with 13 points. Lopez also tallied a team-high nine rebounds. Carrie Barrera-Lacy  led the Saints with four assists.

Dyana Offutt led HTU with 13 points. Three players from the Rams  grabbed a team-high five rebounds apiece. Ariana Smith led the team with six assists.

Inside the box

OLLU combined for 23-of-48 shooting for 47.9 percent, 3-of-20 from three-point range for 15 percent and 5-of-11 from the free-throw line for 45.5 percent. HTU shot 25-of-55 for 45.5 percent, 4-of-13 three pointers for 30.8 percent and 2-of-8 from the free-throw line for 25 percent.

The Saints grabbed 31 rebounds while HTU collected 29. The Saints forced 13 turnovers and committed 17.

Up next

The Saints host LSU-Shreveport on Dec. 14 at 5:30 p.m.