ROCHESTER, Mich. - Kahlaijah Dean collected a team-high 21 points with six rebounds, five assists, four steals on 7-for-8 shooting from the free throw line. Autumn Kissman tacked on 18 points for the third time this season on 6-for-9 shooting from the field, 1-for-2 from 3-point range and a perfect 5-for-5 from the charity stripe with eight rebounds as Oakland held off Northern Kentucky, 84-81, on Friday night at the O'rena. Lamariyee Williams added a new career-high 12 points off the bench on 5-for-9 shooting while Alona Blackwell chipped in with 10 points and six rebounds. With the win, Oakland (12-10, 12-7 HL) matched a program-best 12th Horizon League win set during the 2016-17 season.

Breanna Perry also added seven points with eight rebounds and three assists while Breanne Beatty posted eight points going 2-for-3 from long range. As a team, Oakland racked up 17 assists on 28 made field goals and went 21-for-29 from the free throw line. Dean's five assists led the Golden Grizzlies while Sydney Gouard also helped out with three assists of her own.

Oakland did a great job disrupting Northern Kentucky shots in the contest, coming away with seven blocks. Chloe Guingrich led the way individually for the Golden Grizzlies with a career-high three rejections.

Oakland struggled out of the gate, falling behind 20-13 at the end of the first quarter.

After training 20-9 at the 8:04 mark of the first quarter, the Golden Grizzlies went on a 19-0 run that extended into the second quarter, highlighted by a three from Dean, to take a 28-20 lead. Oakland out-scored Northern Kentucky (6-10, 6-5 HL) 30-9 to take a 39-29 advantage heading into halftime. Oakland's bench scored nine of its 26 total points in the quarter.

In the third quarter, NKU pulled within five pts at 51-46 before Oakland went on 11-0 run to close out the frame, punctuated by a basket from Kissman, to take a 62-48 into the fourth quarter. Oakland knocked down four three-pointers in the quarter to score 12 of its 23 total points.

NKU responded in a major way in the fourth quarter going on a 20-8 run to within two points, 70-68, before Kissman hit a clutch 3-pointer to stop the run and put Oakland back up by five, 73-68. Williams would later make a tough driving lay-up, get fouled in the process, and hit the ensuing free throw to complete the three-point play maintaining the Golden Grizzlies' five-point lead at 82-77.  Oakland then added two crucial free throws one by Beatty and the other from Teneea Heston. NKU had a chance to tie the game in the remaining seconds but Kissman delivered a huge block and the ensuing NKU last-second three-point attempt to tie the game was off the mark. Oakland scored 12 of its 22 points in the paint in the fourth.

Both teams will conclude the series on Senior Day Saturday, Feb. 20 at 3 p.m.

Game Notes:
» The Golden Grizzlies shot well from three-point range, knocking down 7-of-17 long range attempts.
» Oakland never trailed in the second half on its way to victory.
» Oakland tallied 17 total assists in the game.
» The Golden Grizzlies were active in affecting shots on the defensive end, recording seven blocks as a team.
» Oakland cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 11 offensive boards in the game.
» Kahlaijah Dean led the Golden Grizzlies with 21 points.
» Oakland got eight rebounds from both Autumn Kissman and Breanna Perry.




 

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