Oklahoma City takes NAIA women’s title

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Taylor Booze scored 20 points to lead Oklahoma City to its sixth NAIA national championship with a 69-48 win over Union (Tenn.) University on Tuesday night.

Oklahoma City (35-1) is the champion for the first time since winning the last of four straight in 2002.

Booze hit a pair of 3-pointers to help the Stars jump out to a 9-0 lead. The Stars held Union scoreless for nearly the first five minutes of the game.

Lavanda Ross led Union, which was making its fourth straight title game appearance, with 15 points.

Union (35-3) managed to cut the OCU lead to 28-24 on Ross’ driving basket with 4:16 left in the half. The Bulldogs would get no closer.

Oklahoma City scored the next 11 points over the waning minutes of the first half and the start of the second half to take a 39-24 lead with 17:15 left in the game.

Dietra Caldwell opened the decisive run and Lauren Gober closed it with one of her four 3-pointers. Caldwell had nine points and 10 rebounds, and Gober chipped in 17 points.