ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Behind a career-high 30 points from Katie Kapler, the Ouachita Lady Tigers defeated the Blue Mountain Lady Toppers 81-64 on Wednesday. As a team, the Lady Tigers netted 49 percent of shots from the floor.
 
Ouachita (4-6) held the lead for the entire contest, after Kori Bullard gave the Lady Tigers a 2-0 lead five seconds into the first quarter. Bria Caldwell gave Ouachita its first double-digit lead with two free-throws at the beginning of the second quarter, and the Lady Tigers gained their largest lead of 21 on a layup by Halley Hill with 1:44 to go in the third.
 
Blue Mountain (1-8) had a 17-7 run late in the second half that started at the beginning of the first quarter and lasted over six minutes. The Lady Toppers eventually decreased Ouachita's lead to 10, but five straight points from Breanna Harris gave the Lady Tigers a 73-58 lead. Ouachita then finished the game on a 6-0 run that ended with the conventional three-point play by Shelbie Byram.
 
The Lady Tigers were 57.7 percent from the field in the first half while holding Blue Mountain to only 27.6 percent. The Lady Toppers converted on 8-14 three-pointers in the second half, however, to finish the game with a field-goal percentage of 35.6 percent and 50 percent from behind the arc.
 
Ouachita dominated play in the paint, outscoring Blue Mountain 42-12 inside. The Lady Tigers also outscored the Lady Toppers 12-6 on fast-break points.
 
Kapler's 30 points in just 29 minutes came on 10-12 shooting from the floor and 10-10 from the charity stripe. She also grabbed seven rebounds. Harris followed with nine points and three assists, and Bullard had eight points.
 
Kapler is the first Lady Tiger to record 30 points in a game since Monica Williams scored 36 against East Central on March 7, 2013.
 
The Lady Tigers will return to action on Jan. 7, 2016, as Ouachita travels to Alva, Okla. to take on Northwestern Oklahoma State. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.