ORU women `heartbroken' but ready to use last-second loss as `fuel' for stretch drive

Tulsa, Okla. – The Mabee Center was still buzzing from pre-game Hall of Fame festivities when South Dakota State’s Brooklyn Meyer stepped to the line with the outcome in the balance. Her two calm free throws gave the Jackrabbits a lead they would not relinquish, setting the stage for a dramatic final sequence that left Oral Roberts University’s women’s basketball team stunned.

ORU sharpshooter Gentry Baldwin answered Meyer's points with a clutch three-pointer that tied the contest late, electrifying the home crowd and capping a back-and-forth affair. But SDSU forward Maddie Mathiowetz had the final say, slicing through the lane for a last-second layup that sealed a narrow victory for the visitors on Feb. 9, 2026.

Head coach Kory Barnett called the defeat "heartbreaking" in the locker room, yet he challenged his players to channel the pain into momentum. The setback drops ORU into a precarious spot in the Summit League standings with only a handful of regular-season games remaining, making every possession vital down the stretch.

Despite the loss, the Golden Eagles found encouragement on the glass, out-rebounding South Dakota State 39-34. It marked ORU's first positive rebounding margin since a Jan. 29 triumph over North Dakota, a statistical step forward Barnett believes can spark a late-season surge.

Sophomore guards Ty Harper and Luke Gray supplied much of the offensive firepower for the hosts, combining for timely baskets that kept the contest tight. Their efforts went for naught on Hall of Fame Night, an evening already heavy with emotion as the university honored one of its own by naming a facility after a former athlete for the first time in school history.

While the national spotlight rarely shines on a mid-February Summit League clash, the implications for ORU are enormous. With postseason positioning at stake, Barnett emphasized urgency, telling his team to treat the bitter finish as "fuel" heading into the final stretch.

The Golden Eagles will have little time to dwell on the defeat; a quick turnaround awaits as they prepare for another pivotal matchup. If they can translate Tuesday's disappointment into determined play, Barnett is confident his squad can still craft a memorable finish to the 2025-26 campaign.