ARKADELPHIA – Ouachita Baptist University women's basketball players Aspen Thornton and Makayla Miller accounted for more than half of the team scoring in 91-89 loss to Henderson State across the street on Thursday night.
Thornton went above the 30-point mark for the fifth time this season with a game-high 33 points. She connected on 12-of-23 shots from the field and was a perfect 7-for-7 at the free throw line.
Miller turned in a career-high 26 points in the loss. She was 10-for-19 from the field, while adding five rebounds and six assists.
Laney Mears also reached double-digits in scoring with 14 points. She was 4-for-5 from the field, 3-for-3 on three-pointers, and 3-for-3 on foul shots. Lauren Wright led the Tigers in rebounding with nine.
After taking a one-point lead on a pair of free throws by Thornton with 1:46 remaining in regulation, the Tigers (5-7, 3-5 GAC) were held scoreless the rest of the way while committing a pair of turnovers. The Reddies (10-4, 5-3 GAC) capitalized with a bucket with 48 seconds remaining to regain the lead, and a free throw with eight seconds to finalize the scoring.
Thornton had the ball last for the Tigers, but her potential game-tying shot at the buzzer was blocked. A jump ball was called on the shot, giving Ouachita one more chance with 0.5 on the clock, but the desperation attempt missed to seal the win for the Reddies in the first basketball installment of the Battle of the Ravine this season.
Earlier in the game, the Tigers turned in one of their highest scoring periods of the season with a 30-22 margin in the second stanza. Thornton nailed a three-pointer at the buzzer to give Ouachita a 48-45 lead at the halftime break.
Overall, Ouachita shot a season-high 57 percent from the field (34-for-60). It was their second game this year to be above .500.
The Tigers are back at home on Saturday for their second GAC matchup against Arkansas Tech this season. Tech beat Ouachita 90-84 on December 2 in Russellville. Saturday's tip is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Bill Vining Arena.
