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UNLEASH THE GRIZZ

Oakland University Athletics

Scoreboard

Macy Smith vs NKU
86
Winner Oakland Oak 5-7,3-0 Horizon
85
Northern Ky. NKU 3-11,0-3 Horizon
Winner
Oakland Oak
5-7,3-0 Horizon
86
Final
85
Northern Ky. NKU
3-11,0-3 Horizon
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 OT 1 F
Oakland Oak 15 24 13 16 18 86
Northern Ky. NKU 22 14 16 16 17 85

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Jordan Nelson

Skorupski and Smith Take Over as Golden Grizzlies Take OT Thriller Against Norse

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - In a contender for game of the year this far in the Horizon League, the Golden Grizzlies and Norse fought hard in a classic at Truist Arena to end the calendar year.

The Norse came out the gate on a streaky start, taking a 10-2 lead just three minutes into the game behind eight early points from Macey Blevins.

Despite a slow defensive start, Oakland began to turn up the pressure in their zone as Madison Royal-Davis earned a pair of quick steals, leading to six early points as the Golden Grizzlies trailed 12-6 with 6:09 left.

Oakland would close the deficit to five points behind a 6-0 personal run by Maddy Skorupski in the final two minutes of the quarter as the Golden Grizzlies trailed 15-22 at the end of the first quarter.

Even as Oakland's offense picked up their pace to close the quarter, the Norse finished the first period shooting 10-16 (.625) and knocked down a pair of triples to out-pace the Golden Grizzlies.

Oakland did snatch five steals in the quarter, three by Royal-Davis, forcing six Norse turnovers as the Golden Grizzly defense shaped into form as time passed.

To start the second quarter Oakland finally caught their rhythm, starting the period 4-4 from the field and scoring from every part of the court, touching the paint for easy looks and kicking out to the perimeter as Smith and Skorupski blazed the NKU defense.

Jasmine Dupree-Hebert checked into the game and immediately made an impact, finishing off an 8-0 Oakland run with a triple from the right wing to give Oakland their first lead of the game at 28-27 with 6:31 left in the first half.

Having weathered the early NKU offensive storm, Oakland gained momentum and control of the game, shooting 5-7 (.714) to start the second quarter.

The Norse would respond, going on a 7-0 run in response to Oakland's fiery start, as Halle Idowu scored her sixth points of the game as NKU retook a 28-34 lead with just under three minutes remaining in the half.

In an early game of runs, Oakland mirrored NKU's scoring stint with their own as Smith continued to dominate, scoring her 12th points of the half to cap off a 9-0 Oakland run to end the half, leading 39-36 at halftime.

Oakland shot a season-best .769 (10-of-13 FG) in the second quarter as they outscored NKU 24-14 in the second.

Both Smith and Skorupski ended the half with 12 points each for the Golden Grizzlies, shooting a combined 10-17 from the floor.

Royal-Davis was everywhere for Oakland in the first half, scoring seven points (3-of-4 FG) to go along with three steals and four rebounds. Dupree-Hebert also drilled a pair of huge threes for the Golden Grizzlies, scoring six points on a perfect 2-2 from deep in 10 minutes of play.

Both teams came out of halftime looking to gain a leg up in the game. NKU scored five unanswered to start the third quarter, but Dani Grim would stop the run before it became too large, hitting a triple to keep Oakland with a 42-41 lead.

The Norse made a point to attack the paint, drawing four fouls on Oakland in the first three minutes of the quarter, testing the Golden Grizzlies' discipline on defense.

The teams traded buckets in what became an offensive battle, both scoring 11 points in the opening five minutes. Skorupski and Baxter would score consecutive buckets for Oakland, as Skorupski now earned 15 points on the day as a corner three gave Oakland a 50-47 lead with 4:53 to go in the period.

The teams would play to a stalemate, finishing the third quarter tied at 52.

The tone of the game switched during the quarter, going from a fast pace to a physical, defensive affair as both teams shot below .320 from the floor in the quarter.

The pace ramped back up to start the fourth as the teams hit four consecutive triples as a Skorupski corner three pulled Oakland to within one point, down 57-58.

After a Royal-Davis layup, NKU's Kamora Morgan drained back-to-back triples as the Norse took their biggest lead since the start of the game at 64-59 with 7:16 to go.

Morgan continued to put pressure on the Oakland defense, scoring nine points for NKU in three minutes, mainly from the free throw line, as the Norse led 67-61 with three minutes left and the clock ticking down.

Smith and Skorupksi would take trips to the free throw line, cutting the NKU lead to three (64-67) with two and a half minutes remaining to pull Oakland to within one possession.

Smith would hit a big layup to bring Oakland within one point at 66-67 with under a minute to go. After a big defensive stop, Skorupksi would execute a sidelines out of bounds play to perfection, driving to the rim for a go-ahead bucket with 14 seconds left.

On the other end Idowu would draw contact in the post for a pair of free throws, tying the game, but missing the second free throw to leave the game tied at 68 with eight seconds left and Oakland with the final possession.

The Golden Grizzlies would fail to score in their final possession, sending the game into overtime for the first time this season for Oakland.

The game saw no dip in pace and quality as overtime started, as Oakland started the extra time shooting 3-5 from the field, including back-to-back buckets from Baxter and Skorupski to put Oakland up 74-70 with three minutes to go.

With Oakland desperate to stay undefeated in league play, and NKU to get their first league win, the teams continued to play hard and trade buckets, with the Golden Grizzlies holding a slight advantage as a free throw from Royal-Davis continued her incredible night for her 10th point and her first double-double of her career as Oakland led 77-75 with 1:48 left.

The Golden Grizzlies would put the game away, as Grim knocked down a midrange jumper, followed by a Skorupski and-one layup as Oakland led 82-75 with 34 seconds left, giving them enough to secure an eventual 86-85 win, behind a team-effort, going 6-8 (.750 FG) from the field in overtime.

Skorupski finished with a career-high 29 points (11-of-20 FG), five steals, and four assists in a shining effort for Oakland.

Smith scored 20 points for the second time this season, nailing a trio of triples and grabbing six rebounds as well. 

Royal-Davis left it all on the floor, contributing 10 points (4-of-7 FG), five steals, and a career-high 14 rebounds en route to her first career double-double.

And the unsung hero of the game, Grim finished with nine points, four assists, and the game-sealing steal for Oakland.

The Golden grizzlies move to 3-0 in Horizon League play, staying among the top of the conference standings.

They will look to stay perfect as they host Cleveland State on Friday, Jan. 3 at 7 p.m.
 
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