Tulsa Falls in Mayor’s Cup Game to ORU 59-53

Friday, November 20

Reynolds Center

7:00 pm

Tulsa

0-3

Oral Roberts

2-1

Oral Roberts

Tulsa

Tulsa Falls in Mayor’s Cup Game to ORU 59-53

11/20/2015 9:43:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: Stephanie Hall

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Oral Roberts held off the Tulsa Golden Hurricane to capture a 59-53 victory in the annual PSO Mayor's Cup at the Donald W. Reynolds Center Friday night in front of 1,171 fans.

It was the second consecutive win in the series for ORU as Bria Pitts and Kaylan Mayberry had 11 and 10 points, respectively, to pace the Golden Eagles. ORU improved to 2-1, while Tulsa fell to 0-3 on the young season.

Tulsa freshman Crystal Polk had a game-high 13 points, while senior Kelsee Grovey added 12 points.

ORU began the fourth period with back-to-back three-pointers by Mayberry and Jordan Doyle to take a 44-39 lead. Tulsa's Grovey snapped the ORU run with three free throws to pull Tulsa within two points at 44-42, but the Golden Eagles responded with six-straight points to take a 50-42 lead.

Polk's 10^th point on a layup stopped the ORU run and started a 9-2 run to pull the Hurricane to within one point at 52-51 with 2:52 remaining. The Golden Eagles scored the next five points to take a 57-51 lead with just 1:32 left on the game clock.

In the final minute Tulsa could manage just 1-of-5 from the field, while ORU converted its last four free throws to hold off the Hurricane and grab the six-point win.

Tulsa finished the game shooting just 33-percent from the field and 12.5-percent from three-point range on 2-of-16. ORU knocked down seven three-pointers and shot an overall 41-percent from the field, but outscored the Hurricane 21-14 in the final period for the victory.

Tulsa headed into the final period with a 39-38 lead after Grovey knocked down a free throw before the end of the third quarter.

"I think we are known for our perimeter shooting, but when you go 2-for-16 from the three, the perimeter shooting effects what you are good at everywhere else. You miss nine points at the line and you lose the game by six," said Tulsa Head Coach Matilda Mossman.

Tulsa jumped out to a 5-0 lead to start the game and made it 9-3 with 6:35 left in the first period. The teams would exchange baskets until ORU tied the game at 15-15 with 0:38 remaining in the first period, and the first stanza closed with Tulsa leading 17-15 after a Crystal Polk layup with 0:16 on the clock.

The Hurricane took a 19-15 lead to start the second period before ORU knotted the score at 19 with 7:17 left on the clock. The score was tied again at 21 and stayed that way until Polk's jumper put Tulsa ahead 23-21, followed by a Grovey layup at the 1:56 mark to give the Hurricane a four-point lead.

ORU closed out the first half on a 7-0 run and took a three-point lead, 28-25, after a Kaylan Mayberry three-pointer with 0:13 to play.

At the intermission, both teams were shooting in the mid-30 percent range as Tulsa had an 18-12 advantage in the paint. The Golden Eagles hit five three-pointers compared to Tulsa's two.

Tulsa will go across state lines for a 7 p.m. Monday night game against the Arkansas Lady Razorbacks, beginning a three-game road trip that also has the Hurricane traveling to Las Vegas, Nevada for the UNLV Rebel Round-up, Nov. 28-29. Tulsa will play Drake and then either UNLV or George Mason.