Dominant fourth quarter puts Sterling on top in Oklahoma

BARTLESVILLE, Okla. — Sterling defeated Oklahoma Wesleyan, 59-44, at Mueller Sports Center on Saturday, Dec. 6, powered by a 15-point lead late in the fourth quarter. The Lady Warriors capitalized on turnovers, scoring 18 points off OKWU's 20 turnovers.

Sterling opened the first quarter with a focus on defensive stops, including two blocks by McKenna Vogl, which set the tone early. Despite early turnovers, Sterling managed to keep pace through consistent free-throw shooting, with Bailey Young converting both attempts late in the quarter to close a gap. The team struggled offensively, shooting 2-for-9 from the field, but defensive rebounds kept the Eagles' lead in check. Sterling cut the deficit to five points by the end of the first quarter, trailing 12-7.

The Lady Warriors began the second quarter by narrowing the gap with a key 3-pointer from Kali Briar at 8:52, bringing them within a point of the Eagles. Rori Miles capitalized on a turnover with a layup at 5:37 to keep the game tight. As the quarter progressed, Sterling continued to apply pressure, with Briar hitting another crucial 3-pointer at 3:38, giving Sterling a slender lead. Despite the Eagles' attempts to regain their advantage, Sterling closed the quarter strong with a jumper from Briar at 1:40 to edge ahead. The quarter ended with Sterling leading 31-26.

Sterling started the third quarter with momentum, as Vogl's steal led to Karlee Jacobs sinking a 3-pointer, setting the tone for a back-and-forth quarter. Sterling and OKWU exchanged leads, but a key stretch by Sterling, featuring another 3-pointer from Jacobs and multiple layups, allowed them to establish a six-point advantage at the 3:54 mark. As the quarter continued, Sterling capitalized on the Eagles' turnovers, with Vogl contributing both offensively and defensively through successful layups and steals. By the end of the third quarter, Sterling led 40–36, maintaining a narrow edge into the final quarter.

The Lady Warriors dominated the fourth quarter, beginning with Vogl's layup at 9:07 to increase the visitor lead. Jacobs facilitated Sterling's offense with multiple assists, contributing to the team's 19-point effort in the quarter. Sterling capitalized on their opportunities in the paint, scoring 10 points inside while limiting the Eagles to just 4 points in the paint. Defensively, Sterling was effective, recording three steals and a crucial block by Vogl with 21 seconds remaining, which helped maintain their lead. Briar sealed the game by hitting four free throws in the final minute, extending the lead to its largest margin of 15 points. The quarter ended with Sterling outscoring the Eagles 19-8, concluding the game 59-44 in favor of Sterling.

Briar led the way with 23 points, converting 8 of 8 from the free-throw line and making three 3-pointers. Vogl added 15 points, collected four rebounds, and recorded three blocks. Jacobs contributed with eight points, five steals and six assists, showing versatility across the court. Young finished with seven points and secured seven rebounds, bolstering the team's defensive efforts.

With the win Sterling moves to 8-2 on the season, 5-0 in conference. The Lady Warrior's next game will be in North Newton, Kan. against Bethel (5-4, 3-2) at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 10.

Be sure to check for news and updates on Sterling Warrior Athletics on Facebook (/SCWarriors), Twitter (@SterlingCSports), and Instagram (sterlingcsports), as well as the hashtag #SwordsUp. Watch the Warriors' live home events on the Sterling College Sports Network.