Jan. 24, 2009
Box Score | Quotes | Notes | Photo Gallery 
ROCHESTER, Mich. - Senior Jessica Pike scored a game-high 21 points, sophomore Brittany Carnago scored 12, while junior Melissa Jeltema added 11 points as the Oakland University women's basketball team (15-4, 7-1 Summit League) picked up its seventh consecutive victory, a 67-41 victory over Western Illinois (6-13, 4-4 Summit) on Saturday at the Athletics Center O'Rena.
The Golden Grizzlies are now off to their best start of the Division I era at 15-4, and off to their best start since the 1996-97 season when OU won its first 13 games, en route to a 16-1 start and a 25-5 overall record. The win is also OU's seventh straight win over Western Illinois, dating back to January 2006.
"Pike was awesome tonight," said head coach Beckie Francis. "Just from start to finish, offense and defense, I thought our team did a nice job of getting her the ball. We had a strategy of getting her the ball and offensively and defensively, I thought she did a nice job on their guards. But our whole team played very good team defense. They were a big team and we worked on trying to stop their inside game and I thought we did."
The win was Oakland's seventh wire-to-wire win of the season. Oakland raced out to a six-point (8-2) lead five minutes in, and pushed the lead ahead by as many as 13 points (33-20) in the closing minutes of the half, taking an 11-point (33-22) lead into the intermission.
Pike had 18 first-half points on 6-of-8 shooting, while turning in a three-steal performance in the opening half.
In the second half, OU extended its lead to 20 (44-24) before the Westerwinds started a furious run, outscoring OU 21-7 over the next eight minutes to pull to within six (51-45) with just under five minutes to play. However, Oakland responded by going on a 10-0 run, holding WIU scoreless for a total of 4:29 until Jordon O'Brien hit a jumper with seven seconds left.
The Golden Grizzlies held a 34-25 advantage on the rebounding glass, including a 10-2 advantage on the offensive boards. OU had assists on 18 of 22 baskets, while forcing 23 turnovers. OU was led on the rebounding glass by senior April Kidd, whose seven boards were a game-high.
The Golden Grizzlies will return to action on Monday, Jan. 26, as they play host to IUPUI at the Athletics Center O'Rena. A 7 p.m. tip is scheduled.
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