ORU Faces Nicholls on ESPN3
Oral Roberts University is back on the road Thursday night, January 30, when they head to Thibodaux, La., to face Nicholls State University. Tipoff at Stopher Gym is scheduled for 5 pm CT, and the game can be seen around the world through ESPN3 and the Watch ESPN app.
Radio coverage of the game on KYAL-AM 1550 starts at 4:45 pm CT, and ORU fans around
the world can listen on ORUAthletics.com.
Oral Roberts (5-12, 4-3 Southland Conference) is on a two-game winning streak for
the first time this season after dispatching on Stephen F. Austin, 64-55, and Northwestern
State, 62-51, last week at the Mabee Center. Christian Key led the Golden Eagles with 24 points in the SFA win while Bernadett Balla set a season-high with 19 points against the Lady Demons.
Key leads the ORU club with 14.4 points per game, which ranks 10th in the Southland
Conference. The Tulsa native is averaging 20.3 points and shooting 68.4% from three-point
range in her last four appearances.
Senior Sarah Shelton blocked seven shots last week, including five in the victory over Stephen F. Austin.
Shelton now leads the Southland Conference with 2.2 blocks per game.
Nicholls State is 9-9 (4-3 Southland Conference) after a 71-63 win at McNeese State
on January 21. Guard Emani White scored 22 points in the victory on 7-for-13 shooting.
For the season, White leads the Southland Conference with 18.8 points and 2.7 steals
per game.
Thursday’s game will help break a major logjam in the middle of the SLC table. Five
clubs, including Nicholls and ORU, are tied for 3rd in the league at 4-3.
Central Arkansas leads the Southland with a 6-1 record through four weeks, while Lamar
checks in second at 6-2.
ORU split a pair of meetings with Nicholls last season. Both teams won at home, with
Nicholls capitalizing on a late drought by ORU to win, 69-66 in Thibodaux. ORU got
revenge with an easy 84-56 victory in Tulsa.
Misti Cussen’s team completes their Southland road trip on Saturday, February 1 against McNeese
State. Game time in lake Charles, La., is booked for an early 1 pm CT start.