ARKADELPHIA – The Ouachita Baptist University women's basketball team took its first home conference game of the season to overtime on Saturday afternoon in what ended up being an 80-77 loss to Arkansas Tech University.
In a game that featured eight lead changes and seven tie scores, the game was kept close throughout with Ouachita (2-3, 0-2 GAC) leading by as much as seven early in the third period, and Tech (4-2, 2-0 GAC) holding its largest lead of five with a minute remaining in overtime.
Despite the eight lead changes, the Tigers held the lead for nearly 70 percent of the game, right at 31 minutes. The Golden Suns came on strong in the final two minutes of the third period and created what ended up being a back-and-forth battle in the fourth period.
In overtime, Ouachita's
Heidi Robinson nailed a three-pointer with 4:07 remaining to give the Tigers a one-point lead at 72-71. However, the Suns responded with a pair of unanswered shots to take the final lead. Ouachita got back to within two on a three from
Madeleine Tipton with 53 seconds remaining, but the Suns kept the Tigers scoreless on their final three possessions.
Ouachita ended the game shooting 39 percent from the field (29-for-75), 46 percent on three-pointers (12-for-26), and 70 percent on free throws (7-for-10). Tech posted similar overall shooting numbers, with the biggest difference coming on three-pointers. The Suns were 5-for-19 beyond the arc, but made up for it with twice as many trips to the free throw line, making 13-of-21 attempts.
Laney Mears led the Tigers with 22 points, missing her career-high by just one. She was 6-for-9 on three pointers and 7-for-14 overall.
Grayson Fairless, Tipton, and Robinson also reached double-digits in scoring with 15, 14, and 10 points, respectively. Fairless added a game-high 11 rebounds for her first career double-double.
The Tigers are set for their final non-conference game of the season this upcoming Tuesday, December 6 against Williams Baptist. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m. at Vining Arena.
