ADA, Oklahoma – With temperatures falling outside, the Ouachita women's basketball team went cold inside the Kerr Activities Center on Saturday afternoon in a 70-64 road conference loss to East Central.
Despite second-half struggles from the field (7-for-26), Ouachita (10-7, 7-6 GAC) led for most of the game, including as much as an 11-point advantage early in the third period. However, a fourth-period scoring surge from East Central (9-8, 5-8 GAC) allowed the orange-and-black Tigers to rally back for the win.
ECU outscored Ouachita 28-17 in the final 10 minutes, while Ouachita made just four shots on 15 attempts in the frame. Ouachita finished 19-for-53 overall, which marked the fourth lowest percentage of the season (35.8).
ECU's Jayden Wieberg hit a three with 6:21 remaining in the fourth to put her team on top for the first time since early in the second period. That trey sparked a back-and-forth rally the rest of the way that culminated with Wieberg hitting another three-pointer with 20 seconds remaining for the final lead change.
There were a total of 12 lead changes and eight tie scores in the game.
Madeleine Tipton led the purple Tigers with 21 points in the loss to mark her seventh 20-point performance of the season and the 16th of her collegiate career.
Abbey Harrison added 11 points and a team-high seven rebounds.
Ouachita is back in action next Thursday and Saturday at home, hosting Southwestern Oklahoma State and Northwestern Oklahoma State.
