Box Score (html)
WEATHERFORD, Okla. – Trailing Ouachita by 10 points with 4:27 left in the fourth quarter, SWOSU Women's Basketball erased its deficit and stormed back to defeat the Tigers 68-66 and remain undefeated to open the season.
Hailey Tucker scored eight of her 21 total points during that fourth quarter span, hitting a pair of deep balls and adding a layup to the mix that helped SWOSU chip away at Ouachita's lead. By the 1:44 mark in the final quarter SWOSU had tied the game back up at 62-62 on a
Hayden Priddy free throw and took the lead following her second make.
The Tigers had a chance to tie the game on a pair of free throws with 26 seconds left in the game, but OUA's Chasidee Owens missed both of her attempts and the rebound was collected by Tucker who passed to Priddy before being fouled. Priddy knocked both of her foul shots down pushing the lead to four (68-64) with just 13 seconds left in the contest. The defense held firm to not allow a quick Tiger score and SWOSU went on to win the game with Ouachita getting a layup as time expired.
SWOSU led Ouachita by 10 points heading into the locker room for halftime after
Tyra Aska exploded for 15 points in the first two quarters on 5-of-9 shooting and a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line. She was the Dawgs lone scorer in double figures, followed next by Tucker with only seven.
The third quarter was SWOSU's kryptonite, after scoring just 12 points in the 10-minute session and shooting a miniscule 23% from the field. The Tigers took advantage of the Bulldog slump, scoring 27 points on 9-for-16 (56.3%) from the field including four three pointers. After three quarters, the Dawgs trailed by five at 50-45 where the comeback began.
For the second straight game, Tucker finished with 20+ points after tallying 21 on 6-of-17 shooting. After Aska's explosive first half, she cooled down and finished with 18 points. Aska also came away with a career high eight steals to help the Bulldog defense force 27 Ouachita turnovers on the night.
Bethany Franks was productive in the post, scoring nine points and grabbing eight rebounds while Priddy finished with nine points herself.
SWOSU (3-0, 1-0 GAC) will now rest Friday before welcoming Henderson State to the Pioneer Cellular Event Center on Saturday in more league action set to start 1 pm.
