March 17, 2006

JACKSON, Tenn. - Top-seeded Oklahoma City University defeated fourth-seeded Azusa Pacific University (Calif.) 92-84 in the second round of the 26th annual NAIA Division I Women's Basketball National Championship at Oman Arena.

Azusa Pacific and Oklahoma City played a tight game in the opening seven minutes of play before Azusa broke a 12-12 tie with an 11-3 run to give them their largest lead of the game at eight points (23-15) with 10:42 to play in the half. However, OCU worked it even (23-23) and passed the Cougars with 15 unanswered points to go up by seven (30-23) with seven minutes left in the half. Azusa pushed back ahead with three minutes remaining in the half to take a 44-43 lead into halftime.

In the second half, Mariam Sy scored 24 points for the Stars, including nine in a two minute stretch that helped put OCU up 70-58 with 10:30 to play. Azusa managed to cut the lead down to two (81-79) with 2:16 to play, but the Stars shined at the free throw line, connecting on 11-of-14 in the final minutes to secure the win and advance to their eighth consecutive quarterfinal round.

Sy finished with a tournament high 36 points and 19 rebounds to lead Oklahoma City, including shooting13-0f-21 from the floor and a perfect 10-for10 from the free throw line. Her 19 rebounds places her sixth on the all-time tournament list for rebounds in a game and ties the high for this year, as Deanna Duncan of Berry College grabbed 19 in the first round. Alexandra Kotta followed Sy with 17 points, while Zanita Johnson added 10.

Azusa Pacific was led by Meliame Hala'ufia's 18 points, while Lindsay West followed with 17 points. Ashley Oaks had 11, while Sarah Leathers and Monica Somers each added 10 points.

Oklahoma City improves to 32-2 on the season and advances to the quarterfinals Saturday at 8 p.m. to face second-seeded Union University (Tenn.) (28-6).

The two met earlier this season in Oklahoma, where the Stars came out on top 66-63 over the Lady Bulldogs.