The Oakland University women’s basketball defeated University of Missouri — Kansas City 55-46 at Swinney Recreation Center Thursday night.

Freshman forward Olivia Nash finished the game with 16 points and five rebounds. Junior guard Victoria Lipscomb recorded 15 points and eight rebounds.

Oakland (8-10, 2-4) and Kansas City (5-13, 1-4) had four lead changes in the game’s first five minutes. Freshman guard Elena Popkey contributed early, scoring five of Oakland’s first nine points.

Popkey finished the game with 14 points, five assists and four steals.

The Grizzlies began to extend their lead courtesy of a run that included four consecutive three-pointers. Lipscomb made three of the four three-pointers during that stretch.

UMKC began to close in on Oakland’s ten point lead after going on a 10-4 run to make it 25-21 at the end of the first half.

The first basket of the second half didn’t come until nearly three minutes in, when Popkey hit a fastbreak jumper.

The Kangaroos kept within fighting distance for a good portion of the second half. They pulled within two points of the Grizzlies with 12 minutes remaining in the game to make it 31-29.

Oakland answered with a 13-6 run, giving them a 44-35 lead with just under six minutes left to play.

A personal 9-0 run from Nash secured the Grizzlies eighth win of the season.

The Grizzlies out rebounded Kansas City 34-29. Oakland shot 43.4 percent while they held Kansas City to 35.3 percent shooting.

The win Thursday moved head coach Beckie Francis into a tie with Leslie Crane for the third most career wins as a Summit League coach.

Oakland will continue their road trip as they travel to South Dakota to take on the Jackrabbits Jan. 19 at 3 p.m.