Four Lady Warriors score in double figures in win over Braves

OTTAWA, Kan. – Sterling College edged out Ottawa University, 82-78, on Saturday, Dec. 13. The Lady Warriors were able to close out the game with strong shooting performance from the free-throw line, shooting 24-30 from the charity stripe. Sterling also had a strong defense performance with eight steals and six blocked shots.

Kali Briar opened up the game hot for the Lady Warriors, making a three in the opening seconds of the first quarter followed by a two pointer in Sterling's next possession. A pair of free throws from Karlee Jacobs gave the Warriors an early 7-0 lead.

The Lady Braves did not go away quietly battling back and tying the score with a bucket by Aaliyah Brown to tie the score at 9-9. From there the scoring was back and forth with Ottawa taking their first lead of the game off a three pointer from McKinley Kruger with just under four minutes in the quarter. The teams continued to trade buckets, with the Lady Warriors having the last say off a buzzer-beater three pointer from Briar to tie the game 26-26.

Briar put Sterling back on top with another three at 8:42 in the second quarter and the Lady Warriors never looked back. Bailey Young capitalized on rebounds and worked her way to the charity stripe to keep Sterling on top. Jacobs came alive offensively in the final minutes of the half, scoring back-to-back-to-back possessions to give Sterling the 45-38 lead headed into the half.

McKenna Vogl took over for the Lady Warriors at the start of the second half, scoring the first six points of the third quarter for Sterling. However, back-to-back threes from Ottawa's Dominique Schutte helped the Braves hang around. Both teams continued to trade buckets throughout the quarter leaving the Lady Warriors up, 63-55 headed into the final frame.

The Braves continued to try and claw their way back into the game and opened up the fourth quarter with a made basket by Kruger. Vogl was able to respond with a bucket for the Lady Warriors while Briar's three followed by a made field goal by Jacobs gave Sterling their largest lead of the game with the Warriors up 73-62.

Ottawa responded with back-to-back threes from Schutte to cut the deficit to five. Solid free throw shooting from Rori Miles, Jacobs and Young helped keep the Braves at bay with Erika Felker putting the final nails in the coffin with two free throws in the final seconds of the game to give Sterling the 82-78 win over Ottawa.

Briar led the Warriors in scoring with 37 points, shooting 13-24 from the field and making five three pointers. Young posted another double-double with 15 rebounds and 14 points while Jacobs scored 12 points and came away with three steals. Vogl also scored in double figures with 14 points and had four blocks for the Lady Warriors.

Sterling (10-2, 7-0) will be back in action in a non-conference match up against Graceland University (1-11) on Tuesday, Dec. 30 in the Gleason Center at 2 p.m. Admission to the game will be free.

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.