San Antonio, Texas. – OUAZ Women's Basketball opened the 2026-27 season with a victory on Monday evening, defeating OLLU 72-63 to improve to 1-0 on the year.
In a game that featured several momentum swings, the Spirit relied on timely defense, balanced scoring, and a dominant fourth quarter to secure the season-opening win. After a tightly contested first quarter that saw OUAZ hold an 11-10 advantage, the Spirit found their rhythm offensively in the second period. OUAZ outscored the Saints 20-15 in the quarter and took a 31-25 lead into halftime.
OLLU responded coming out of the break, using a strong third quarter to cut into the deficit and make it a four-point game entering the final 10 minutes. With the home crowd looking to fuel a comeback, the Spirit delivered their best basketball of the night in the fourth quarter. OUAZ scored 22 points in the final frame while continuing to pressure the Saints defensively, pulling away late for the nine-point victory.
The Spirit's star duo paced the offense throughout the evening. Kaylona Butler led all scorers with 24 points while filling up the stat sheet with seven rebounds, six steals, and three assists. Butler's aggressive play on both ends helped set the tone for the Spirit, particularly during several key stretches in the second half.
Madison Symons opened her season with a double-double, finishing with 21 points and 10 rebounds while adding five assists and four steals. Symons consistently provided answers for the Spirit whenever OLLU threatened to erase the lead, helping OUAZ maintain control throughout the contest.
Sophia Lopez added eight points and two blocked shots, providing an important presence in the paint, while Meela Delap came off the bench to contribute six points and five rebounds on a perfect 3-for-3 shooting performance. Tine Reiff was also flawless from the field, scoring six points on 3-of-3 shooting.
Defensively, the Spirit created problems for the Saints all night long. OUAZ forced 19 turnovers and converted those opportunities into 21 points. The Spirit also won the rebounding battle 41-39 and were efficient at the free-throw line, knocking down 17-of-21 attempts.
The victory gives OUAZ a 1-0 start to the season and provides momentum heading into a challenging early-season slate.
The Spirit will return to action on Friday, Nov. 6, when they face William Penn at 4 p.m. in Omaha, Nebraska, as part of a tournament hosted by College of Saint Mary.
