Women's Basketball 11/16/2022 2:05:00 PM

2022-23 Women's Basketball Notes -- Week 3

THE WEEK AHEAD
A busy month of action to start the season for the OUAZ women's basketball team continues with the first two games of GSAC play this week. The action tips on Thursday in Santa Clarita, Calif., against 10th-ranked The Master's. The Spirit then head to Santa Barbara for a Saturday game at No. 2 Westmont.

Both games will be streamed live and have live stats available, with links for both options listed at OUAZSpirit.com/live.

OPENING TIP
With its 4-3 record, OUAZ is off to its best start since the 2019-20 campaign, where they went 5-2 in the season's first seven games. The Spirit are 1-2 on the road to start the year while winning three of the last four games overall.

OUAZ begins GSAC play having lost four straight league games and 10 of the past 11 through the end of last season. The Spirit was picked to finish eighth in the conference according to the preseason poll voted on by the coaches.

Slow starts have been the story for the Spirit this season and entering the road trip they have been outscored 103-81 in the first quarter. They have turned that around as the game goes on to hold a 104-90 scoring edge in the fourth quarters of games. That difference led to the Spirit overcoming a program-record 17-point deficit to defeat Benedictine Mesa on Monday.

ABOUT THE SPIRIT
Entering the road trip, OUAZ is averaging 65.8 points per game and shooting 34.3 percent. They are making 17.8 percent from beyond the arc for an average of 2.7 made threes per outing. The Spirit lead the GSAC in attempting 26.5 free throws per game.

At the defensive end, OUAZ allows 71.7 points per game, with the opposition shooting 40.1 percent from the floor.

OUAZ averages 45.5 rebounds per game while leading the GSAC by snagging 18.8 offensive rebounds per game. They add 12.8 assists and 12.5 steals per contest.

70 THE NUMBER
In the program's history, OUAZ holds a 30-7 record when scoring at least 70 points in a game. That includes a 15-1 mark when scoring 80 points in a game, including 11 straight victories. This season, the Spirit is 2-0 when reaching the 70-point mark.

FAST START HELPFUL
Leading at halftime has been a deciding factor for the Spirit, where they are 35-5 all-time when leading at intermission. In contrast, they are 6-66 when trailing at the break, with Monday's win snapping a 37-game losing streak in that situation.

SPIRIT LEADERS
Tiana Sledge leads the Spirit at 13.0 points and 10.0 rebounds per game. She has scored in double figures five times with one 20-point game and four double-doubles. Sledge is third in the GSAC in rebounds, and fourth at 3.3 steals per outing.

Marlee Johnson is scoring 9.5 points per game while grabbing 7.3 rebounds per night. She has a 20-point scoring effort and one double-double. Her 86.7 percent at the foul line is second in the GSAC.

Landyn Lovelady is the team's third-leading scorer at 9.2 points per game. She leads the Spirit with 17 assists while adding 13 steals. Lovelady has three games scoring in double figures.

Tatiana Gary leads the GSAC by shooting 89.5 percent at the foul line after going 10 for 10 against BenU on Monday. She has twice scored in double figures and is averaging 8.0 points per game.

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Players Mentioned

#24 Marlee Johnson: G; 5' 6"; Sophomore

#13 Landyn Lovelady: G; 5' 8"; Sophomore

#11 Tatiana Gary: G; 5' 7"; Sophomore

#32 Tiana Sledge: F; 5' 9"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#24 Marlee Johnson
: 5' 6"; Sophomore
: G

#13 Landyn Lovelady
: 5' 8"; Sophomore
: G

#11 Tatiana Gary
: 5' 7"; Sophomore
: G

#32 Tiana Sledge
: 5' 9"; Freshman
: F