Women's Basketball falls to (RV) Oakland City after slow second half

PITTSBURGH --- Carlow University women's basketball lost an 89-63 River States Conference contest to (RV) Oakland City (Ind.) University Saturday at Donahue Pavilion.

PITTSBURGH --- Carlow University women's basketball lost an 89-63 River States Conference contest to (RV) Oakland City (Ind.) University Saturday at Donahue Pavilion.

The Mighty Oaks (14-3) are currently undefeated (9-0) in conference action and are "receiving votes" in the most recent NAIA Coaches' Top-25 Poll.

The loss dropped the Celtics to 5-13 overall and 0-9 in the RSC.

Carlow kept it close in the first quarter.

A three-pointer from Emari Stinnette tied it up, 17-all, with under two minutes left in the quarter.

Sydney Carr hit a jumper with less than a minute remaining to give Carlow the advantage, but the Celtics sent Oakland City to the line where they tied the score, 19-19.

A last-second jump shot game the Mighty Oaks a two-point lead heading into the second.

Emiley Hillgartner started off the quarter with a jumper that set off a 12-0 scoring run for the Celtics.

Carr hit a trey to cap Carlow's run, resulting in a timeout from the opposing bench.

Oakland City regrouped and put together its own 13-2 run to regain the lead.

The teams took turns tying the score for the final two minutes of the quarter, with the Mighty Oaks leading 40-37 at the half.

Oakland City held Carlow to 26 points in the entire second half – out-scoring the Celtics, 23-12, in the third quarter.

Carlow drew seven fouls but did not make it to the free throw line once in the fourth quarter.

Hillgartner went 4 for 5 from the line and led the Celtics with 19 points. She dished out four assists and picked up two steals on the day.

Carr hit two of Carlow's five treys and scored 15 points. She tallied five assists, two steals and a block.

Megan Ost pulled down 10 boards and three blocks in the effort, while Shaelyn Clark recorded half of Carlow's steals on the day with seven.

The somewhat messy action resulted in each team recording 22 turnovers on the day.

Oakland City out-rebounded the Celtics, 53-48, and scored 24 points off the bench to Carlow's 13.

The Mighty Oaks shot 76.7 percent and scored 23 points at the foul line alone.

Oakland City's Emilee Hope sank five three-pointers and led all scorers with 24 points, while four other players tallied 11 points apiece.

The Celtics travel to Indiana University East Tuesday, Jan. 17 for a 5:30 p.m. RSC game.