Box Score
Box Score (html)
BARTLESVILLE, Okla. – Following her sister Sarina's effort on Friday,
Taryn Sayama took the center stage in helping SWOSU fight off East Central in the Great American Conference semifinals on Saturday evening.
Taryn scored 18 points in the second half, routinely slicing up the ECU defense for baskets, including the game-clincher with 32 seconds to play, giving SWOSU an 84-81 lead. East Central spent most of the second half cutting the Lady Bulldogs 21-point lead all the way down to one point at 82-81 in the final minute.
It was then that Sayama made her final strike, getting into the lane for a lay-in that put SWOSU up three. After a defensive stop,
Michelle Fisher pulled down fourth rebound of the night and went to the free throw line, where she calmly hit two free throws to put SWOSU back up five, 86-81.
East Central made one final basket, but
Sarah Mendoza hit 1-of-2 free throws to give SWOSU the 87-83 lead with four seconds to play and the Tigers final shot fell off as the Lady Bulldogs earned a return trip to the championship game.
Sayama led the way with a game-high 24 points and four rebounds, finishing 10-of-19 from the field and 2-of-7 from 3-point range. Fisher also had another big game, scoring 18 points – and surpassing the 1,400-point mark for her career in the process – while playing the entire 40 minutes.
All six of the other players who entered the game for SWOSU scored at least six points and grabbed at least two rebounds. The Lady Bulldogs also had 13 assists and got out in transition to outscore ECU 10-2 in fast break points.
The win improves SWOSU to 18-10 on the year and earns the Lady Bulldogs their third consecutive trip to the GAC Tournament Championship game. They are 1-1 in the previous trips, defeating Harding 69-58 to win the inaugural title in 2012 before falling to Arkansas Tech 70-66 in overtime last season.
SWOSU will face the No. 2 team in the nation in the finals after Harding advanced by defeating Arkansas Tech handily in their semifinal matchup. Tipoff at the GAC Championship game will be at 3:30 pm on Sunday from Bruin Fieldhouse in Bartlesville.
