**For
Immediate Release**
OPSU Rolls to Big Finale in Lady Aggie Classic
by Scott Puryear of Aggie Sports 12/04/05
Goodwell, OK – Day Two of the Lady Aggie Classic, hosted
by Oklahoma Panhandle State University, was a good one and
the event was capped by a big 74-49 OPSU win over St. Gregory’s.
OPSU had hammered Western State (69-45)
on Friday, and Saturday’s
first game of the day matched Southwest Baptist against Western
State. SBU posted a convincing 82-38 victory.
In the final game of the two day-four
team tournament, the Lady Aggies saved the best for last
as they smacked St. Gregory’s
by 25 points. OPSU freshman Sara Furgeson set the tone immediately
with a first possession steal and the Lady Aggie defense stayed
relentless all night. With just over nine minutes left in the
half, Furgeson came up with another steal and hit Brandi Lewis
with a great pass, and Lewis promptly nailed a three point
rocket to give OPSU a 14-4 lead.
The Lady Aggies kept up the pressure and held a 32-25 halftime
lead.
The second half was all OPSU, and they cruised to their fifth
win of the season with the twenty-five point margin of victory.
Lewis burned the nets for 29 points, five of them from beyond
the three point arc, and the senior guard also converted on
all eight of her free throw attempts.
The crowd was on their feet several times
in the second half and OPSU fans thoroughly enjoyed the experience
of the big win. OPSU coach Jerry Olson went to his bench
many times throughout the game and this year’s team
has a good deal of depth.
Starters Taneisha Rogers and Nina Kuleff
each had 12 points. Olson had special praise for Diana Garduno,
noting that she came off the bench and gave the team a big
lift. Garduno, a senior (from El Paso, Texas), had the game’s
only double-double (11 points and ten rebounds).
Olson and his assistant, Brad Vanden Boogaard, continue to
prepare the Lady Aggies (5-3) for another run at the Heartland
Conference title. They are working on their depth, continuing
to stress defense, and have several players who can step up
and score in double numbers.
By virtue of an earlier win over Montana
State-Billings, the Lady Aggies stand alone in first place
in the league with a 1-0 record. They won’t get back into conference action
until the first week of 2006, but they will be ready. OPSU
has five more games before conference play resumes. They’ll
hit the road for a Tuesday night game with New Mexico Highlands,
and then be back home next Saturday for a game against Newman.
Coupled with Friday’s 69-45 win over Western State,
the big win against St. Gregory’s gave fans a very good
time. It’s going to be a lot of fun in the OPSU gym this
winter.
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