ARKADELPHIA – The Ouachita women's basketball team was ready for the Reddies on Thursday night in what ended up being an 80-58 victory over Henderson State to complete the first half of Great American Conference games for the 2024-25 season.
Ouachita won the first three quarters, including a 23-11 advantage in the second period and a 28-15 edge in the third to put the Tigers by as much as 33 points midway through the fourth.
With Ouachita's starters on the bench for most of the fourth period, HSU fought back to outscore Ouachita 13-2 in the final four minutes to cut the deficit down to the final difference of 22.
The Tigers jumped out to an 8-0 lead in the first two-and-a-half minutes before HSU clawed back to tie the game at 10-10 at the four-minute mark of the first period. The lead changed just once more with Ouachita taking back control and managing a close margin for the rest of the first period and well into the second. A 10-0 run for the Tigers in the final two minutes led to a 16-point advantage at the break.
Overall, the Tigers finished at 50 percent shooting for the game (28-for-56), 38 percent on three-pointers (6-for-16), and 82 percent on foul shots (18-for-22). HSU finished at 32 percent overall (17-for-53), 31 percent on threes (9-for-29), and 83 percent on foul shots (15-for-18).
Abbey Harrison led all scorers and tied her career-high with 19 points. She helped Ouachita dominate down low with a 38-16 edge in points in the paint.
Madeleine Tipton added 14 points.
Laney Mears had 12.
Grayson Fairless scored 10 points off the bench and added a team-best seven rebounds.
The Tigers are back in action this Saturday, January 25 at home against Harding. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. at Bill Vining Arena.
