SEARCY, Ark. – Lady Tigers, down 20 points in the second quarter, fight back in the second half giving them the chance to win at the end. Unfortunately, they could not get the last second shots to fall and lose to Harding 79-75.
 
Madison Brittain led the charge for the Lady Tigers as she scored 20 points and added three blocks. Freshman Rylee Lavender put in 20 points also on 5-10 shooting from three. Alivia Huell also shined for Ouachita adding her seventh double-double of the season.
 
Ouachita would come out and score the first basket of the game on a Madison Brittain jumper. The Lady Tigers would allow Harding to go on a 15-2 run, before Jakyya Clay put in a jumper, got fouled and made the free throw. A Madison Brittain three pointer and a Rylee Lavender free throw would put the Lady Tigers only down 10 at the end of the first quarter.
 
At the start of the second quarter Eden Crow would score four straight points for Ouachita. The Tigers would allow the Bison to extend their lead to 40-20 with 2:30 left in the first half. The Tigers would close out the half on an 8-2 run to cut the lead to 14. Entering the half Madison Brittain led the Tigers with 11 points making it her 11th straight game scoring double-digit points.
 
The Lady Tigers came out of the break with passion and determination going on a 12-2 run. During the run Madison Brittain and Rylee Lavender each score four points for Ouachita. The Lady Tigers would only get as close as four as they let the Bison extend their lead back out to 11 to end the third quarter.
 
In the fourth quarter the Tigers would use their defensive prowess to fuel their offense. In a 7-0 they came up with a steal that ended with free throws and a block that ended with a Rylee Lavender three. The Bison would extend their lead back to 10 with 2:10 left in the game. The Lady Tigers would not get up as they would use three straight possessions of made threes to cut the game to three at 78-75 with 1:02 left. The Tigers defense would lock down the next Bison possession as Ouachita would get the ball back with 36 seconds left. The Lady Tigers would get two opportunities for threes in the least 30 seconds, but the shots would not fall.
 
Quick Facts

• The Tigers shot 55.2% in the second half of the game.
• The Tigers forced Harding into 20 turnovers in the game, converting 20 points off of those turnovers.
• The Lady Tiger's bench score 25 points in the game outscoring Harding's bench 25-11.
• Both teams struggled from the free throw line as each shot 58%.
• Rylee Lavender's 20 points is a career high.
• Madison Brittain is now 54 points away from 900 career points.

 
The Lady Tigers return to action Thursday February 14 as they will play rival Henderson State at 5:30.