Box Score OKLAHOMA CITY (Nov. 14, 2017) – Down 17 points in the second half against a foe that made last season's NCAA Division II women's basketball tournament, Oklahoma Christian's young Lady Eagles responded with a huge rally.

OC cut that deficit all the way to two points in the final minutes, but Central Oklahoma went 11 of 14 from the free-throw line in the final 2:41 to hold off the Lady Eagles and escape the Eagles' Nest with a 67-61 win on Thursday.

In a game when the shots weren't falling much – at a 36.5-percent clip – the fact that OC (0-3) scrapped and clawed its way back into the game was something that gave coach Stephanie Findley encouragement going forward.

"I was glad to see us fighting when we got down and we were able to make the comeback," Findley said. "I'd just like to be able to come back and take the lead. … But I like the fight I'm seeing in us. We do need to rebound better, but we showed improvement there. We played better defense tonight – I'm pleased with that. UCO is a very good team, so I was glad we were in there and had a chance for awhile."

UCO (3-0) has several key returning players, a primary reason the Bronchos were ranked seventh in the Division II Central Region preseason rankings. Led by 6-foot-5 senior center Jesheon Cooper, UCO looked the part of a national contender early on, outrebounding the Lady Eagles 34-17 in the first half while building a 34-23 lead.

But in the second half, it was OC that controlled the boards, outrebounding the Bronchos 27-18, which helped fuel the Lady Eagles' rally.

UCO led 44-27 after a basket by Ireon Smith midway through in the third quarter, but OC freshman Delyssa Miller drained a 3-pointer, fellow freshman Maddison Collyer hit a short jumper and Carolyne Lawley added a layup before a 3-pointer by Collyer pulled OC within 46-37 at the 2:02 mark of the quarter.

The Bronchos were up 51-41 with 9:25 left, but another 3-pointer by Miller started a 10-2 run by OC after two free throws by Audrey Hayes with 3:54 left, the Lady Eagles trailed only 53-51. But a free throw and basket by Cooper and two free throws by Blake Blessington gave UCO some breathing room.

Three times in the final two minutes, OC cut the deficit to three points, but each time, the Bronchos answered with a pair of free throws.

"I probably left Addy (Clift) and Maddie (Collyer) out there a little bit too long," Findley said. "I took them out to give them a breather so we could keep the pressure on. We made a little run at them when I got those fresh bodies in, but I probably left them out there just a little bit too long, which allowed them to knock down some free throws while they were out of the game. We didn't score a couple of trips there while I was trying to get them back into the game."

Miller and Lawley each scored 11 points to lead OC, while Addy Clift added 10 points. Cooper had 13 points and 16 rebounds for UCO, while Blessington added 12 points and Melinda Murillo had 10.

The Lady Eagles will travel to Cameron on Thursday for a 5:30 p.m. game. OC and Cameron played in the season opener for both teams last Friday in Wichita Falls, Texas, with Cameron edging the Lady Eagles 96-95.

Stephanie Findley discusses the game: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OQj772m4-E&feature=youtu.be