The Basics
Score: Oral Roberts 99 – Northeastern State 74
Record: ORU (1-0), (0-0) – Northeastern State (0-0), (0-0)
Location: Mabee Center (Tulsa, Oklahoma)

TULSA, Okla. – The Oral Roberts women's basketball team opened their 2024-25 campaign with a victory on Monday afternoon in the Mabee Center as they defeated the Riverhawks, 99-74.

The All-Summit League First-Team selection, in Taleyah Jones, led the Golden Eagle offense racking up 26 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals. Not far behind, Makyra Tramble carded 20 points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals.

ORU jumped out to a 6-3 lead behind two triples from Tramble. Back-to-back layups from Ruthie Udoumoh and two straight jumpers from Jalei Oglesby helped give the Golden Eagles a 14-8 advantage mid-quarter. ORU held NSU to just two points in the last 3:33 of the first quarter, in part from a Tyla Heard steal and Gentry Baldwin block. After the first ten minutes, the Golden Eagles led, 24-13.

To start the second quarter, the Riverhawks committed two turnovers, leading to five unanswered points from a Tramble three and two Emily Robinson free throws. NSU clapped back, scoring nine straight points of their own to cut the Golden Eagle lead to seven (29-22). Four straight deuces from Emily Robinson, Jalei Oglesby and Taleyah Jones regained ORU's 12 point advantage. The Golden Eagles and Riverhawks traded buckets to end the half as ORU went into halftime up 46-29.

The Golden Eagles struggled in the opening minutes of the second half as NSU sparked a 6-1 run to cut their deficit to nine. 10 points from Jones proved to be the difference in the quarter as ORU charged back regaining their 18 point lead. Despite being outscored 30-28 in the third, ORU maintained a 15 point lead heading into the final quarter (74-59).

Three 5 point scoring runs and a 60.0% field goal percentage from the Golden Eagles left the Riverhawks stranded in the fourth quarter. In the final minutes, Alayna Kraus, Tyla Heard, Azailah Funches and Mary Carden all scored their first points as Golden Eagles, leading ORU to an emphatic 99-74 home victory.

The Leaders
 
Oral Roberts: Jones had game-highs in scoring and field goals made with 26 points and 10 made field goals. Udoumoh had game-highs in rebounds and steals, carding seven and five, respectively.
 
Northeastern State: Annaston Brown scored 17 points and grabbed six boards. Madina Camara tallied three assists.

Inside the Box Score

• Jones (26), Tramble (20), Oglesby (16), and Udoumoh (15) all finished in double-digits for ORU.
• ORU recorded 14 steals and forced 29 Riverhawk turnovers.
• Udoumoh tallied five steals.
• ORU pulled down 35 rebounds today, grabbing 17 offensive and 18 defensive boards.
• The Golden Eagles outscored NDSU 37-11 in points off turnovers, 14-8 in second-chance points, and 19-8 in fast break points.

 
For the latest information on ORU women's basketball, follow @ORUWBB on X or go to www.ORUAthletics.com. Fans can also receive updates on the team by downloading the ORU Athletics App in the Google Play or App Store.