Dec. 28, 2012

Recap | Box Score

OAKLAND (6-7, 0-1 Summit League)

• Elena Popkey scored a career-high 22 points to lead Oakland

• Popkey set a career-high nine field goals made and equaled her career-best with three 3-pointers

• OU is 21-10 all-time against Western Illinois.

• The Golden Grizzlies are 14-2 all-time against the Leathernecks at the O'rena

• Popkey hit the first basket of the game for OU to tie the game 2-2

• Oakland cut a 12-point lead to just six points at 25-19, before WIU went on a 10-2 run to lead 35-21

• Oakland used an 8-0 run to cut the lead to 35-29 and eventually got within one point at 37-36 on the strength of a 15-2 run

• The Golden Grizzlies outscored the 17-7 to close out the final 7:13 of the first half

• Western Illinois led by as many as 12 points in the second half 57-45

• Annemarie Hamlet reached double-digits for the eighth time in nine games at the O'rena this season

• The 11 3-pointers hit by Western Illinois were the second most that OU has allowed a team to hit this season, behind only No. 2 Connecticut

• Oakland had previously won five consecutive Summit League home openers

• Four Oakland players reached double-digits: Popkey (22), Elizabeth Hamlet (13), Annemarie Hamlet (12) and Zakiya Minifee (10)

• Western Illinois shot 55 percent from beyond the arc, the highest of any OU opponent this season

• The Oakland bench outscored the WIU bench 20-12 behind 12 points from Annemarie Hamlet

• Oakland played without top scorer and rebounder Olivia Nash for the fifth consecutive game

Beckie Francis Quote
"When the other team shoots 55% from 3, it is really hard to win. They hit key shots at key moments. I felt we had our top defenders on their best shooters and they still hit shots. They had a good inside out game and Western (Illinois) played really well."