ARKADELPHIA, Ark. - After falling behind early in the first quarter, the Lady Tigers bench exploded for 20 first-half points and ignite the team to a 69-66 win over the Arkansas Monticello Blossoms. The win gives Ouachita the series sweep over UAM and keeps them alive in the hunt for the final two spots of the Great American Conference Championships. Breanna Harris led all players with 21 points and eight rebounds.

After a sluggish start, Ouachita was down by 12 with 5:45 remaining, trailing 14-2. Head Coach Garry Crowder made wholesale substitutions and the bench responded for him immediately. The Lady Tigers went on a 10-2 run led by Bria Caldwell's six points. Defensively, the Lady Tigers held the Blossoms to just five points in the remaining minutes of the quarter and trailed UAM 19-14 to start the second quarter. 

Two threes by Taylor Bowles off assists by Macey Burr pulled the Lady Tigers within one with 7:55 remaining in the first half. A layin by Breanna Harris and a three by Caldwell on the ensuing possession gave the Lady Tigers their first lead of the game, 27-26, with 5:27 remaining. Another bucket by Harris in the paint extended the lead to three, 29-26. Four lead changes ended on a three by Shelbie Byram, giving the Lady Tigers a 34-32 lead with a minute left to play. UAM knocked down a shot at the buzzer and the teams entered halftime tied, 34-34. 

After going down two, Harris and Katherine West each knocked down threes to start the second half for Ouachita.The Lady Tigers never trailed again in the thrird quarter, leading by as many as seven after Kori Bullard converted a three-point play to make it 47-40. UAM tied the game at 47-47, but Morgan Miller scored five straight points in the final two minutes of the third quarter to give the Lady Tigers a 52-47 lead.

Breanna Harris hit her second three of the game at the 8:32 mark of the fourth quarter to extend the Lady Tiger lead to eight, 57-49. A three by UAM cut the Ouachita lead to one, 60-59 with 5:22 remaining. Another three at the 2:10 mark put the Blossoms up 64-62, their largest lead of the second half. Alexis Sharp answered with a drive across the lane to tie the game on a layin. After a defensive stop on the Blossoms ensuing possession, Bullard scored in the paint to put the Lady Tigers up for good. Free throws by West and Harris sealed the deal and the Lady Tigers earned a 69-66 win. 

With three games remaining in the season, the Lady Tigers are still alive in the hunt for a GAC Championship seed. They will play the Lady Muleriders in Magnolia on Saturday, Feb. 20. Tipoff is at 1:00 p.m.