ARKADELPHIA, Ark. - Behind a 10-point advantage in the third quarter, the Ouachita Lady Tigers earned their first Great American Conference win on Saturday, defeating the East Central University Tigers. Breanna Harris led Ouachita with 17 points. 

Ouachita (2-5, 1-3 GAC) and East Central (1-5, 1-3 GAC) both converted on 36 percent of shots from the field in the game, and both teams had at least 20 points in the paint. The Lady Tigers, however, knocked down 11 free-throws on 11 attempts, while East Central was only 1-2 from the line. 

The Lady Tigers started the game shooting 4-6 from the floor and 3-3 from the free-throw line on their way to a 12-5 run in the first quarter. East Central immediately followed with a 13-0 run to take an 18-12 lead with 1:15 to play in the quarter. A layup by Katie Kapler and two free-throws from Bria Caldwell put the score a 18-16 heading into the second quarter. 

The second quarter went scoreless for the first minute and 30 seconds until Harris tied the game with a layup. East Central then took control of the quarter and an 11-2 run until the end of the second quarter put the Tigers ahead 34-27 at the half. Harris had a game-high nine points in the first half.

East Central held its lead for the first four minutes of the second half but never led by more than eight. Back-to-back three pointers by Alexis Sharp and Katherine West put the Lady Tigers in a 40-40 tie with East Central, and Ouachita was able to a 50-47 lead into the final period.

ECU cut Ouachita's lead to only one to begin the fourth quarter, but Macey Burr put the Lady Tigers ahead 53-49 with a crucial three-pointer to maintain the lead. A 7-0 run by East Central eventually gave the Tigers a 58-57 lead with 2:39 to go, but Kapler took the lead back once again for Ouachita with two free-throws. 

After a defensive stop with 13 seconds to play, Katherine West grabbed a defensive rebound and then hit two free-throws to increase the Lady Tigers' lead to 61-58. A three-pointer with four seconds from ECU's Whitney Stotler did not fall, and Sharp secured the win with the board. 

The Lady Tigers were led by Harris and West in the second half, who recorded eight points each. West also grabbed seven rebounds. 

For the game, West followed Harris' 17 points with 11, including 3-5 shooting from three-point range. West also finished with nine rebounds, three assists and zero turnovers in 31 minutes. Kapler added 10 points and eight rebounds in 31 minutes, as well, and Kori Bullard scored nine points and grabbed nine rebounds. 

The Lady Tigers will take a break from conference play as Ouachita hosts Central Baptist College, University of Arkansas at Fort Smith and Blue Mountain College for its next three games. Ouachita takes on Central Baptist on Friday, Dec. 11 at 6 p.m.