Box Score (html)
MAGNOLIA, Ark. – SWOSU claimed its first conference victory of the season, 89-78, over previously unbeaten Lady Muleriders inside the W.T. Watson Center on the campus of Southern Arkansas on Saturday afternoon.
The Lady Bulldogs had a terrific game on the glass, holding a 20-rebound advantage over the hosts from SAU, including a career-high 27 rebounds by senior Center
Janae Coffee. Her 27-rebound effort, including 11 of SWOSU's 16 offensive rebounds, stands as a new Great American Conference single game record. The old record of 25 was previously set by SWOSU's
Sumiya Darden in 2011 in a game against Abilene Christian.
Three different Lady Dawgs set career highs for points in the victory. Coffee poured in a game-high 26 points to go along with her 27 rebounds for her first double-double of the season.
Hayden Priddy scored 23 on 7-of-10 shooting, while
Nina Gregory chipped in with 19 points.
SWOSU got off to a hot start, carrying a 48-38 lead into halftime. By the end of the second 10 minute frame, Coffee already posted her first double-double of the season with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Gregory was also dialed in from the start, connecting on a career-best five of her six attempts from long range, setting a new career-high in points with 17 by the end of the first half. The sharpshooting Lady Dawgs hit on 53.8 percent of their shots from distance as a team while holding the Lady Muleriders to just a 25 percent clip from beyond the arc.
The third quarter was the only one in which SWOSU did not have an advantage, but the Lady Dawgs claimed the second half as well by a 41-40 advantage. On the boards, Coffee grabbed another 16 as SWOSU better the Lady Muleriders by 12 in the half. Priddy poured in 14 points, doing most of her damage at the charity stripe where she went 7-8, as Coffee completed the half with a further 15 points.
Aside from the potent trio of Coffee, Priddy and Gregory,
Jade Jones also attained a double-double. She accounted for 11 points to go along with a career-best 10 assists. Jones just missed out on a triple-double, also grabbing nine rebounds.
SWOUS (2-5, 1-3 GAC) returns to Weatherford for the final game of 2015 against Cameron in the Pioneer Cellular Event Center on Saturday, December 12 at 1:00 p.m.
