TULSA, Okla. ? Sophomore Jordon O'Brien hit two three-point shots in the final 15 seconds of the game to get the Western Illinois women's basketball team within one point, but Sam Houston State's Brittany Brooks hit both ends of a one-and-one to give them a 72-69 victory in the consolation game of the Holiday Inn Select Thanksgiving Classic.

“Jordon played very well today,” said head coach Leslie Crane. “She shot the ball well and did a nice job for us.”

O'Brien ended the game with 15 points, shot 50 percent from the floor (5-10) and 75 percent (3-4) from beyond the arc. Senior Amanda Walker was the only other Westerwinds (1-3, 0-0 The Summit League) player to record double-digits in the points column, as she added 14.

The Bearkats (1-5, 0-0 Southland Conference) started out the game with a 5-0 run in the first two minutes before Western got on the board. Western then started a 13-6 run over the next four minutes to take a 13-11 lead. The team's then battled for the lead for the next three minutes, going on several four and six point runs.

Sam Houston State broke a 17-all tie with 9:30 minutes remaining on a jumper by Whitney Smith to take the final advantage of the half. The Bearkats went on a 8-2 run to extended their lead to five points. Western kept fighting, but was unable to get closer than one point during the first 20 minutes and headed to the lockerrom down 40-35.

The Westerwinds started the next 20 minutes with a 5-2 run in the first three minutes to pull within two points, but Sam Houston State then started a 6-0 run of its own to extended the lead to six. Western kept battling, and tied the game at 51 with 9:45 remaining, but the Bearkats again pulled out to a four-point lead and held it for the remainder of the game.

After shooting 50 percent (13-26) from the floor in the first half the Westerwinds shot only 38.9 percent (11-38) in the second 20 minutes of the game, while Sam Houston stayed consistent with a 45.3 shooting percent (24-53) in the game.

Western returns home for a game against Northern Iowa, Wednesday, November 28 at 6 p.m. on Waste Management Court at Western Hall.

Notes: Western out-rebounded the Bearkats 46-33, including a 20-9 mark on the offensive side...senior Stephanie Lovingood tallied 14 rebounds for the Westerwinds.

Quotes:
Western Illinois Head Coach Leslie Crane
“The rebounding is something positive that we can take out of this game, but unfortunately we had 24 turnovers.”

“It is very disappointing. Our team just wasn't mentally prepared to play today.”