Box Score
Box Score (html)
BARTLESVILLE, Okla. – Sarina Sayama scored 14 points after intermission and the Lady Bulldogs used a 17-4 run late in the second half to pull away from Henderson State for a 66-60 victory in the first round of the Great American Conference Tournament at Bruin Fieldhouse.
After trailing by two at halftime, SWOSU fell behind by four early in the second half and fought back for the first 10 minutes of the period. Krystal Beachum scored an old-fashioned 3-point play with 8:32 to play to take a 48-45 lead, but the Lady Bulldogs went on a 17-4 run over the next six-plus minutes to take a 10-point lead.
Sayama led the charge with two 3-pointers and a layup during the stretch while
Michelle Fisher added a bucket and
Kylie Boggess put in her lone 3-pointer of the game. Henderson State did get back within four at 64-60 on a 3-pointer from Jasmine Settles in the final minute, but SWOSU got a defensive stop and
Chelsea Bates hit two free throws to provide the final margin of 66-60.
Sayama had a game-high 20 points off the bench, hitting 7-of-17 field goal attempts, including 6-of-13 shots from 3-point range. Boggess poured in 18 points and grabbed eight rebounds while Fisher notched her second double-double of the season with 11 points and 11 rebounds while struggling to get her outside shot to fall.
SWOSU improves to 17-10 with the victory and they advance to the semifinal round of the GAC Tournament for the third consecutive season. In the semis, they will face No. 2-seed East Central, who advanced by defeating Southern Arkansas 67-57.
The Lady Bulldogs split the season series against East Central with both team's winning on their own home court. The rubber match will take place on Saturday afternoon at 5:45 pm in Bartlesville.
