Undefeated No. 3 Lady Sandites hammer No. 10 Broken Arrow 66-45; Isabella Regalado scores 15

Photo: Morgan Miller.

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

1Q Sand Springs 21-12
2Q Sand Springs 14-7
3Q Sand Springs 18-12
4Q Sand Springs 13-11

Scoring: (Sand Springs) Regalado 15, Pennington 12, Kersgieter 12, Mutiri 12, McGee 7, Johnson 6, Taber 2. (Broken Arrow) Smallwood 28, Cuellar 7, Bowker 4, Moore 3, Callen 3. 

(Sand Springs only)
Offensive Rebounds: Mutiri 3, Pennington 2, McGee 1, Taber 1, #33 1.
Defensive Rebounds: Johnson 4, Pennington 4, Kersgieter 4, Mutiri 3, McGee 1, Regalado 1, Bunch 1. 
Steals: Kersgieter 3, Pennington 2, Johnson 1, Regalado 1.
Assists: Kersgieter 3, Pennington 2, Johnson 1, Mutiri 1, Taber 1. 

It was a big night at the Ed Dubie Field House as the No. 3 Sand Springs Lady Sandites (6-0 overall, 3-0 conference) dominated the No. 10 Broken Arrow Lady Tigers (2-1, 2-1) 66-45. The home team led by as much as 66-33 in the fourth quarter before clearing the bench and giving up the final twelve to Broken Arrow. The game marked the first victory over the Tigers for fourth-year Head Coach Dustin Morrow (45-35 career). 

The game started off back and forth as the Lady Sandites warmed up and found their rhythm, but Broken Arrow took their final lead of the game at 5-4 and Sand Springs ran the show from there forward. The Lady Tigers were limited to a single scorer for their first six points of the game, while Sand Springs showed off their depth of talent with four different players making the scoreboard before Brooke Bowker relieved Jalise Smallwood as the lone Tiger scorer. 

Smallwood totaled ten of the Tigers' twelve first-quarter points and the home team held a 21-12 advantage. The Lady Sandites went on a run to start the second quarter with a two from Gloria Mutiri, a pair of free throws from Kierra McGee, and a two from Sydney Pennington to make it 27-12 before Angelica Cuellar cut into the lead with a three. Mutiri hit the next three baskets to make it 32-15, then the Tigers retaliated with four points from Smallwood and Cuellar. McGee sent off a buzzer beater three from midcourt and the Lady Sandites were up 35-19 at the half.

The third period was slightly better for the Tigers as they were only outscored 18-12, but once more, there was nothing they could do to stymie the Sandite tide. Smallwood scored another eleven points in the third quarter and would ultimately lead both teams with 28 points as the only Lady Tiger to double. The Lady Sandites let off the gas in the fourth and cleared the bench, but even then they outscored their opponents 13-11 for a final score of 66-45 after Broken Arrow sank the final twelve. 

Four Lady Sandites doubled in the event. Sophomore Isabella Regalado led with fifteen points, shooting five-of-seven from three-point range. Pennington, an Oklahoma State softball-signed senior, scored 12, as did Ohio State volleyball-committed junior Gloria Mutiri and sophomore Holly Kersgieter. Mutiri and Pennington tied for the lead with six rebounds each, while Kersgieter led in steals with three. 

The Lady Sandites will return to action after the new year at the Bedouin Shrine Tournament in Muskogee.