Box Score ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Despite a season-low 10 turnovers, the Ouachita Lady Tigers fell 61-58 to the Southern Nazarene Crimson Storm on Thursday night. Ouachita also out-rebounded SNU 42-40.
The Crimson Storm (6-9, 3-6 GAC) grabbed an early lead in the first half and maintained that lead until a 16-3 run by the Lady Tigers put Ouachita on top 30-20 with 6:43 remaining. A three-pointer from
Katherine West sparked the run, and
Breanna Harris followed with back-to-back three pointers.
Despite losing their double-digit lead, the Lady Tigers went into the break clinging to a 34-25 lead. The Crimson Storm posted a first-half field goal percentage of 38.5 percent, while holding Ouachita to only 31.4 percent. The Lady Tigers did, however, convert on two more three-pointers and five more free-throws.
Ouachita, who averages 19.3 turnovers per game this season, committed only three first-half turnovers. The Lady Tigers also forced 11 Southern Nazarene turnovers, which resulted in 12 points for Ouachita.
SNU's Aminata Fall led everyone at the half with 13 points, seven rebounds and five blocks.
For Ouachita, West scored a team-high 11 points in the half while grabbing four boards. Harris followed with eight points and a team-high five rebounds.
In the second half, the Lady Tigers continued to hold their lead until a nine-minute, 17-7 run for SNU finally put the Crimson Storm ahead 46-44. The final eight minutes of the contest featured four ties and four lead changes.
With the score tied at 54 with 2:54 to play, Harris knocked down a three-pointer off an assist from
Katie Kapler. The Crimson Storm answered right back with a three of their own, however, and eventually claimed a four-point lead with 17 seconds remaining. West then converted on one-of-two free-throws on Ouachita's next possession, and after a missed SNU free-throw, West took a running, last-second three-pointer in attempt to send the game to overtime. The shot did not fall, and Southern Nazarene escaped with the 61-58 victory.
The Lady Tigers ended the game with a shooting percentage of only 27 percent from the field, compared to SNU's 42.1 percent.
Fall only recorded four points in the second half, but her 10 rebounds and three blocks gave her 17 points, 17 rebounds and eight blocks for the game. Miranda Taylor led the game with 21 points for the Crimson Storm.
Harris finished with a game-high 20 points and nine rebounds for Ouachita, while West followed with 17 points and eight boards.
The Lady Tigers (5-10, 1-7 GAC) will host Southeastern Oklahoma State on Saturday, Jan. 17, as Ouachita looks for its second conference victory. The game is scheduled for 1 p.m.
