ARKADELPHIA – The Ouachita women's basketball team opened
Kiley Hill's tenure as head coach with a 73-36 exhibition victory over Texas A&M-Texarkana on Friday night inside Bill Vining Arena.
The Tigers were up by 10 midway through the first period and led by as much as 14 points in the first frame with 1:31 remaining.
Ouachita was just 3-for-17 from the field in the second period to allow the Eagles to cut their double-digit deficit down to six on two different occasions.
Grayson Fairless was fouled at the buzzer and sank two free throws to put the Tigers up by eight at halftime with a score of 27-19.
In the third period, Ouachita went from 17 percent shooting to 62 percent from the field for the team's best scoring frame of the game, outscoring the Eagles 25-14 to hold a 19-point lead of 52-33 heading into the final frame.
Ouachita's defense shined in the final 10 minutes, holding the Eagles to just three points on one made shot.
The Tigers finished at 44 percent from the field (28-for-63), 42 percent on three-pointers (8-for-19) and 90 percent on foul shots (9-for-10).
Laney Mears,
Madeleine Tipton, and
Abbey Harrison all tied for the game lead in scoring with 12 points each.
Brooke Smith added eight points and led the team in rebounds with five.
Ouachita is now set for its first countable contest next Wednesday, November 13 at home against Champion Christian. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. at Vining Arena.
