Feb. 22, 2010

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ROCHESTER, Mich. - Senior Melissa Jeltema scored a game-high 25 points and Oakland University (16-12, 13-4) forced 27 South Dakota State University (17-10, 12-4) turnovers to defeat the Jackrabbits, 81-68, on Monday night inside the Athletics Center O'Rena. The Golden Grizzlies have now won five straight games.

"Our seniors are awesome," said head coach Beckie Francis. "It's fair to say our team is very competitive and we have a senior group that wants to go out winners. I don't think I have ever had a unit like this. They know it and get it."

Senior Hanna Reising scored 13 points off the bench, while junior Anna Patritto chipped in with 12 off the bench. Freshman Bethany Watterworth was the final OU player in double figures with 10 points.

The Golden Grizzlies finished the game 20-for-26 from the free throw line (77 percent) and scored 28 points off SDSU turnovers. Oakland shot 61 percent (17-28) from the floor in the second half, compared to just 39 percent (11-28) in the opening half.

The Jacks had two players in double figures as Ketty Cornemann finished with 13 and Maria Boever had 11. OU snapped SDSU's 26-game winning streak in the month of February, dating back to the Feb. 28, 2006.

The Golden Grizzlies shot 57 percent from beyond the arc in the first half and Jeltema scored nine straight points as OU closed out the half on a 14-3 run to take an 11-point lead, 37-26.

Oakland would extend that lead all the way to 17 points with just over one minute to play in the game and cruised to victory. The Grizzlies outscored the Jacks 40-26 in the paint.

The Golden Grizzlies will host IPFW (13-14, 10-6) in their regular-season finale this Saturday. Game time is set for 3:30 p.m. as OU will honor its four seniors prior to the start of the game.

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