ORU Clinches Regular Season Title

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Golden Eagles captured a share of their first-ever Summit League regular-season title, whileKevi Luper set the all-time single-season conference record in scoring as ORU rolled past UMKC by a score of 93-79 on Saturday afternoon at Municipal Auditorium.

ORU also posted its 20^th win of the season, marking the fourth time the Golden Eagles have reached the 20-win plateau under head coach Jerry Finkbeiner.

Luper scored 17 points to break a 16-year old record held by Northern Illinois’ E.C. Hill, and has totaled 665 points this season. The Adair, Okla., native nailed a 3-pointer at the 15:42 mark to shatter the record.

Four other Golden Eagles scored in double figures, led by senior Janae Voelker‘s 23-point performance. Voelker went 7-of-12 from the field, including a career-high five 3-pointers on eight attempts, and a perfect 4-of-4 from the free-throw line. Voelker also posted eight rebounds, four steals and three assists.

Jordan Pyle (Mustang, Okla.) tallied 20 points on 8-of-10 shooting from the field and a 4-of-4 effort from the free-throw line, while also pulling down eight boards.

Savanna Buck (Pinehurst, Texas) tied her previous career high with 16 points off 5-of-7 shooting from the field, including three treys on four attempts. Fellow freshman Jaci Bigham (McAlester, Okla.) posted 10 second-half points for a total of 12, while handing out seven assists.

Bigham drained her first 3-pointer of the contest at the 13:57 mark in the second half to give the Golden Eagles their school-record 253^rd trey of the season. The previous record was set by the 1989-90 squad, who played 40 contests during the season.

The Golden Eagles were tied at 17 early in the first half before putting together a 16-2 run to jump out to a 14-point lead. ORU held a double-digit advantage throughout the second half.

ORU (20-8, 14-3) shot 53 percent (31-of-59) from the field, 41 percent (12-of-29) from downtown and 91 percent (19-of-21) from the charity stripe. The Golden Eagles out-rebounded UMKC by a 43-25 margin.