ARKADELPHIA – The Ouachita women's basketball team busted out the pink jerseys for the first time of the 2023-24 season on Thursday night in a #Play4Kay Cancer Awareness game, and the result was a 67-62 victory over Southwestern Oklahoma State at home.
Ouachita (8-11, 6-9 GAC) started the game with a 9-0 and held a lead all the way through the end of the third period, when SWOSU (12-9, 9-6 GAC) rallied to take a one-point lead in the final minute.
Madeleine Tipton answered with a three-pointer in the final seconds of the third period to put the Tigers up by two at 49-47 heading into the final 10 minutes.
With the exception of one possession in the fourth period, the Tigers held the lead throughout with the Bulldogs keeping it close.
Audri Winfrey nailed the game-clincher on a three-pointer in the final seconds to finalize the scoring.
The Tigers dominated on the boards with a season-high 58 rebounds to SWOSU's 33. 25 of those rebounds came on the offensive glass, which led to 15 second-chance points for the Tigers.
Four Tigers reached double-digits in scoring, led by
Grayson Fairless with game-highs in points (15) ands rebounds (12) for her first double-double of the season and fifth of her career.
Samantha Watson finished with 14 points.
Laney Mears and
Madeleine Tipton each scored 12.
The Tigers are now set to face off against Northwestern Oklahoma State at home this Saturday. It will be the fifth game of the season against a nationally-ranked opponent. NWOSU is ranked 18th in D2 with a record of 20-3. Saturday's tipoff is set for 1 p.m. at Vining Arena.
