MAGNOLIA, Ark. – With the help of the 40 points in the paint, the Southern Arkansas Lady Muleriders defeated the Ouachita Lady Tigers, 84-55, on Saturday. 29 of Ouachita's 55 points came from the bench, including 12 from Taylor Bowles.
 
Southern Arkansas (17-7, 13-7 GAC) started the game on a 14-0 run and eventually led 25-11 at the end of the first quarter. Nine of Ouachita's points in the period came from players off the bench. With 51 seconds left in the quarter, Macey Burr knocked down a three-pointer to cut the deficit to 14, and Ouachita (9-17, 6-14 GAC) opened the second period with six straight points to complete a 9-0 run.
 
With 6:37 until halftime, Katie Kapler pulled Ouachita within seven points with a layup, but a 10-1 run by the Lady Muleriders extended their lead to 39-23 with less than three minutes until the break. The Lady Tigers did end the period on a 6-0 run, however, ending with a three-pointer by Breanna Harris with six seconds remaining.
 
Ouachita netted just 29.4 percent of its field goals in the half, including 5-17 from three-point range. Southern Arkansas posted a field-goal percentage of 48.5 percent, and the Lady Muleriders recorded 12 fast-break points and eight points off turnovers.
 
Harris, Bowles and Burr led Ouachita with six points each in the first half, and Kori Bullard grabbed seven rebounds.
 
The Lady Muleriders opened the third quarter on a 12-2 run to take a 51-31 lead. Southern Arkansas then held a lead of at least 18 for the rest of the contest. Bowles and Harris once again led the Lady Tigers with six points each.
 
For the game, Bowles and Harris each scored a team-high 12 points. Burr added eight points off the bench, and Bullard recorded seven points and a team-high nine rebounds.
 
The Lady Tigers will return to Bill Vining Arena for their next contest, as Ouachita hosts Northwestern Oklahoma State on Thursday, Feb. 25. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.