The women’s basketball teams from Haskell Indian Nations University and Oklahoma Wesleyan were as cold from the field inside Coffin Complex as the weather outside.

At least in the first half, when they shot a frigid 25 percent.

But as temperatures dropped outside, things warmed up inside in the second half as the Fighting Indians pulled away from the Eagles for a 63-49 victory.

The key to the game was defense. Haskell implemented a full-court press that caused 29 turnovers.

“Because we’re not that big, I started thinking about pressing a long time ago,” HINU coach Phil Homeratha said. “The pressure on defense was what allowed us to win the game.”

Haskell spread the wealth on offense. Three players were in double figures. Kortney Smith, who averages just over 15 points a game, dished eight assists to Justina George, Maria Parker, and Sharon Forte, who scored 16, 15, and 15 points respectively.

Haskell’s men had a similar first-half fate to the women’s team, but the men never did warm up.

Oklahoma Wesleyan, No. 4 in the NAIA Div. II rankings, proved it’s deserving of the high ranking as it cruised past the Fighting Indians, 99-65.

The Eagles jumped to a 23-9 lead midway through the first half and never looked back, shooting 57 percent from the field and pouring in 13 of 28 shots from behind the three-point arc.

Ben Carry Water led HINU with 15 points, and Dominick Tiger-Cortes added 14.

The HINU women (5-4) will play host to College of Ozarks at 3 p.m. today. The same men’s teams will follow.