ARKADELPHIA – Ouachita seniors
Madeleine Tipton and
Heidi Robinson combined to score 50 points to lead the Ouachita women's basketball team to a fifth straight win in Saturday's 82-74 victory over Southeastern Oklahoma State inside Bill Vining Arena.
The Tigers' senior backcourt duo shot 50 percent from the floor on 32 shots and made seven combined shots from beyond the arc. Ouachita (5-1, 2-0 GAC) weathered nine lead changes in the first five minutes of action before taking control for the rest of the game.
Tipton poured in a game-high 26 points on 7-for-14 shooting, while connecting on nine shots at the free throw line. The Great American Conference Player of the Week, powered a 9-0 scoring run midway through the first quarter, knocking down a tough fadeaway jumper between a pair of threes from each corner that pushed the Tigers in front 21-14. The Savage Storm rallied in the second frame to trim the deficit to one-possession three times before the break, but never got that close again.
Robinson took over with 19 points in the second half, starting with a deep three from the left wing to open the third. After senior forward
Abbey Harrison denied a shot attempt on the defensive end, Robinson followed up by hitting a fadeaway jumpshot from close range and later capped off the 10-2 scoring run with a corner three. The senior guard was also a key distributor, using a pump fake to get her defender off balance and drove inside the lane to draw a help defender, then slipped an assist to freshman
Bree Hubbard for an easy layup.
Southeastern (3-5, 0-2 GAC) made one last push with three minutes left to play, closing to within 70-66 behind consecutive turnaround buckets from junior guard Kenzli Warden. Robinson responded with her fourth 3-pointer from the right wing, then on the next possession, she slashed through the lane for a left-handed finish to restore a nine-point cushion and finished with a season-high 24 points.
The Tigers deployed a no-dribble offensive attack late, using just three passes as Tipton led senior guard
Samantha Watson upcourt, who then fed an assist to Harrison at the rim for the dagger. Ouachita made 28-for-61 shots from the floor and went 9-for-27 from deep.
The Tigers have a week off before returning to the hardwood next Saturday at home against Arkansas-Monticello.
