BETHANY, Oklahoma – The Ouachita Baptist University women's basketball team took the hardwood for the first time of the 2023 calendar year on Thursday night, dropping a Great American Conference road game to Southern Nazarene University by a final score of 76-56.
Ouachita (4-5, 1-4 GAC) started out hot, jumping out to what ended up being its largest lead of the game at 10-3 just three minutes into the first period. However, SNU (8-3, 5-0 GAC) kept the Tigers scoreless over the next three minutes while mounting a comeback to take a 12-10 lead with three minutes to go in the first. Ouachita's fast start allowed the Tigers to keep pace with the Crimson Storm in the final minutes of the first period to hold a one-point lead heading into the second.
The Crimson Storm offense hit a different gear in the second period, outscoring the Tigers 26-18 to hold a seven-point lead of 42-35 at the halftime break. SNU maintained its pace in the third period, leading by double-digits for most of the frame. The SNU defense stepped up in the fourth period, holding Ouachita to just four points.
Laney Mears led the Tigers with 16 points, 12 coming on four made three-pointers.
Heidi Robinson followed closely with 15 points.
Ouachita wraps up its road trip to start the new year with a short trip to Shawnee, Oklahoma to take on Oklahoma Baptist this Saturday.
