Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Top-ranked Oklahoma City throttles XU Gold Nuggets, 86-48

LAS VEGAS — Senior guard Dietra Caldwell scored nine of her 16 points during a decisive second-half run Tuesday which powered Oklahoma City to an 86-48 women's basketball victory against Xavier University of Louisiana in the Vegas Hoopla.

The Stars (10-0), ranked first in NAIA Division I, gave the 16th-ranked Gold Nuggets (7-5) their biggest defeat since a 91-53 loss to Oklahoma City in the second round of the 2003 NAIA National Championship.

It was business as usual for Oklahoma City, which has outscored opponents by an average of 44.7 points this season. The Stars never trailed, led 37-22 at halftime, then clinched the victory with a 24-1 burst in the first 7½ minutes of the second half. Caldwell closed the run with a 3-pointer and her final two points of the game to give the Stars a 61-23 advantage.

Caldwell is in her first season at Oklahoma City after transferring from NCAA Division I UTEP, where she played three seasons and was Conference USA Freshman of the Year.

Nicollette Smith had 14 points for the Stars. Taylor Booze, a former LSU player, scored 12, and Tiffany Goldwire had 11 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and three steals.

Jazmoné Kelly had 10 points, five rebounds and three steals for Xavier, and SiMon Franklin and Jasmine Grant scored seven points apiece.

The Stars outshot the Gold Nuggets 42.4 to 34 percent from the floor and outrebounded them 48-35. Oklahoma City made 32-of-47 free throws and had a staggering 41-6 advantage in points off turnovers. Xavier committed 29 turnovers, its most in nearly two years, and 29 personal fouls.

Oklahoma City is 5-0 all-time against Xavier and beat the Nuggets for the second time this year. The Stars won 67-51 on March 18 in second round of the national tournament.

Oklahoma City finished 2-0 in this event; the Stars defeated Pikeville 97-39 Monday. Xavier will play its second and final game of the Vegas Hoopla at 4 p.m. PST Wednesday (6 p.m. CST) against Sterling, which is 5-5 after its 60-55 victory Tuesday against Viterbo.


By Ed Cassiere, SID

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