Lady Lions fall to Tillotson, 68-62

SAGU takes on OLLU on Monday

Setback spoils Shaq-tastic performance

AUSTIN, Texas -- The Southwestern Assemblies of God University women’s basketball team made strides in critical growth areas during their league game against Huston-Tillotson University. However, they sprung leaks in other areas and lost a second half lead for the third straight game in a 68-62 setback on Saturday evening.

The Lady Lions reduced their problematic turnovers to 17 and forced the upstart Rams into 25.

The good news also included four players reaching double-digits in scoring. Shaquita Roberts (San Antonio, Tx / Byron Steele HS) had another gigantic game. The six-foot center scored a team-best 13-points on five of ten shooting. She has reached double-figures in points in four games in a row.

But it was her trademark strengths that glowed.

Baby Shaq gobbled up a career-high 19 rebounds, seven on the offensive glass. She has had 10 or more in five of nine outings this season. The Sultan of Swat also zapped eight Tillotson shots, one shy of her personal best of nine, set in November against Crowleys Ridge College.

The maroon-clad Rams, 2-5 overall and 2-3 in the Red River Athletic Conference, were not to be denied on this night. They dominated the boards, 52-39 and made 47% of their shots. They were five out of thirteen (38%) beyond the arc and 9-of-18 from the foul line.

SAGU, 3-6 and 0-3, slipped into last in the 13-team league. Their three conference defeats (of two, seven and six points) had similar finishes, with the Lions losing second half leads.

Bacone College eked out a last-minute, 46-44 win, before the University of the Southwest rallied for a come-from-behind, 69-62 win last Monday. The six-point Saturday shortcoming came in a game that was tied on four occasions and eight lead changes.

The Rams became the third consecutive conference team to outscore SAGU in the second half after trailing at intermission. They overcame a 31-27 deficit by shooting 54% in the second stanza.

Team Lioness did not lack effort, as their 17-14 edge in offensive boards revealed. It helped SAGU take 15 more shots (73-58) than HTU. The Lions connected on 34% overall, and just 8-of-28 tries outside the arc (29%). Their proficiency on the foul line hindered them in the second half, where they were 3-of-11. They finished four of thirteen.

Roberts and forward Gabby Bruner (Peaster, Tx / Peaster HS) were saddled with foul woes, combining for nine. It enabled the Lady Rams to hold a 40-26 margin in points scored in the paint.

Guards Nia Winston (Garland, Tx / Panola JuCo, Lakeview Centennial HS) and Okievia Bratchett (Center, Tx / Tenaha HS) each bucketed 11 points. Winston fired in three triples.

Sophomore shooting guard Jirah Rodriguez (Georgetown, Tx / Georgetown HS) added 10 points and five boards.

Freshman Cordia Harvatin (San Antonio, Tx / Stacey HS) contributed again, making headway for future progress. She netted nine points, made three steals and a dished out a team-high five assists. Her 30 minutes of playing time was a season-high.

Follow Monday's Game vs. Our Lady

Southwestern will close-out the first semester with a clash in the Mission City on Monday. They will meet Our Lady of the Lake University (7-2, 4-1 RRAC) at 5:30pm in the Mabee Gymnasium. The Lady Saints lead the series with SAGU, 3-1, and have taken the past three.

Fans can follow a play-by-play text version of the game, called LiveStats. The webcast can be accessed by going to the OLLU website at www.ollusaintsathletics.com. Click on NAIA Stats (live stats), then on the (((W))) icon to the right of the game.

Contact: Mark “Link” Warde, Sports Information Director, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or at 469-658-2847.