ARKADELPIHA, Ark. – The Ouachita Lady Tigers' basketball team (12-16, 9-13 GAC) lost its final game of the regular season to Northwestern Oklahoma State (11-15, 8-14 GAC) by a final score of 72-71, but was still able to clinch a berth in the Great American Conference tournament next week.
 
Two freshmen, Shakyla Begnaud and Chasidee Owens, led the Lady Tigers in scoring with 14 points each. Kori Bullard scored 11 points and shot 100% from behind the three-point line. Bullard made three 3-pointers including one at the game-ending buzzer.
 
Northwestern opened the game hot and led 18-4 with five minutes remaining in the first quarter. A 3-pointer from Hailee Crosby slowed the Rangers and cut their lead to 18-7, but NWOSU still lead 24-14 at the end of the first quarter. The Lady Tigers made a run at the beginning of the second quarter to cut NWOSU's lead to 27-25 with just over five minutes remaining. The run featured two 3-pointers from Morgan Miller as well as a 3-pointer from Bullard. The Lady Tigers kept the game close for the remainder of the half, but were never able to take the lead. NWOSU led at the half, 38-37.
 
The Lady Tigers took the lead from a Kori Bullard jump shot on their first possession of the second half and were able to keep the lead until there were six minutes remaining in the third quarter. The Lady Tigers were never able to take the lead again, but kept the game close for its remainder.
 
The Lady Tigers will open the Great American Conference tournament with a game against Arkansas Tech on Thursday, Mar. 2 at 12 p.m. The team is the seventh seed for the tournament. All games will take place in Bartlesville, Okla.