ORU women suffer season-ending loss to Missouri State in WBIT

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — The Oral Roberts University Golden Eagles women’s basketball team concluded its 2024-25 season in the Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament (WBIT), falling to the Missouri State Bears on the road 107-76 on March 20 at Great Southern Bank Arena.

Former Howe Lady Lion Jalei Oglesby led the ORU offense, scoring 18 points on 7-of-13 shooting while grabbing eight boards in the process. She eclipsed the 1,000-point mark in her college career, which began at Arkansas Tech University.

Makyra Tramble followed Oglesby with 14 points of her own, knocking down two 3-point baskets and securing seven rebounds.

Taleyah Jones and Emily Robinson rounded out the double-figure scoring, recording 12 and 10 points, respectfully.

Ruthie Udoumoh was just shy of a double-double, logging nine points and eight rebounds.

The Golden Eagles (24-9) couldn’t get anything going offensively in the first quarter, allowing a 9-0 run by the Bears (26-8) to open the game. A 3-for-4 shooting stint helped ORU gain traction, but it wasn’t enough to stop the 27-point quarter from Missouri State.

Another 50-percent shooting quarter from the Bears left the Golden Eagles falling behind, scoring 17 points to MSU’s 26. Emily Robinson scored five points in the frame while Oglesby followed her up with four. Despite allowing zero turnovers, the Golden Eagles headed into the break in a 25-point hole as they trailed 53-28.

ORU opened the second half allowing a 10-point run before Udoumoh made a basket. With 2:44 to play in the third, Tramble hit a triple before scoring the last bucket in the half to get her point total up to nine. The Golden Eagles went into the fourth down 29 points at 76-47.

The fourth quarter was an offensive shootout with the Golden Eagles scoring 29 points to Missouri State’s 31. Down 24 with 1:56 left in the game, coach Kelsi Musick, who on Friday was named the new Arkansas women’s coach replacing Mike Neighbors who resigned after the season ended, gave Udoumoh, Tramble and Meghan Weinrich one last send off, subbing them out of the game for the final time in the collegiate careers.