CLINTON, Mississippi – Ouachita women's basketball saw a back-and-forth finish come down to the final seconds on Monday evening in the season opener, falling 70-69 to Mississippi Christian at A.E. Wood Coliseum.
The game featured 11 lead changes, including seven in the fourth quarter, as the two teams swapped advantages multiple times in the closing minutes.
Ouachita (0-1) led by as many as 11 points in the third quarter and held a 56-55 advantage entering the fourth. The Tigers extended their lead to four points early in the period when Kayden Porter knocked down a three-pointer to make it 59-55 with 9:23 remaining.
MC (1-0) gradually worked its way back into the game. Kameron Sanders connected on a three-pointer to give the Choctaws their first lead of the second half, 60-59, with 6:18 remaining. Sanders added another basket to extend the lead to 62-59.
Gracie Burckhartzmeyer answered with a three-pointer to tie the game at 62-62 with 5:01 remaining. Porter followed with a basket at the 4:38 mark to put Ouachita back in front, 64-62.
The lead continued to change hands down the stretch. Jakeria Hawkins tied the game at 64-64 with 2:48 remaining before Porter converted a free throw to give Ouachita a 65-64 advantage with 2:27 left.
Sanders responded with a basket to put Mississippi Christian ahead 66-65 with 2:18 remaining. Burckhartzmeyer reclaimed the lead for Ouachita with a basket at the 1:28 mark, making it 67-66.
Rebecca Wood answered for the Choctaws with a basket at the 50-second mark to put the home team back in front, 68-67. Bree Hubbard then scored in the paint with 19 seconds remaining to give Ouachita a 69-68 lead.
Mississippi Christian had the final answer, as Hawkins scored the go-ahead basket with 12 seconds remaining. Ouachita was unable to convert on its final possession as the Choctaws held on for the one-point victory.
Porter led Ouachita with a career-high 20 points, going 6-for-15 from the field and 3-for-9 from beyond the arc. Jordan Gregory added 17 points off the bench, including five three-pointers. Burckhartzmeyer finished with 12 points, while Hubbard contributed eight points and a team-high eight rebounds.
Marta Chico Gutierrez also scored eight points and recorded five rebounds. Ouachita finished with 10 three-pointers and forced 17 points off turnovers.
Sanders led all scorers with 21 points for Mississippi Christian, while Hawkins added 17 points and Wood finished with 12.
Ouachita is back in action this Thursday and Friday, November 12 -13 at home, hosting the GAC/MIAA Challenge at Bill Vining Arena. Emporia State and Central Oklahoma come to town representing the MIAA. Henderson State will also play in the challenge. The first game for the Tigers is Thursday at 6 p.m. against Emporia.
