Box Score (html)
WEATHERFORD, Okla. – Despite leading by as many as 18 points with 7:16 left in the fourth quarter, No. 17/19 SWOSU found themselves in a close game in crunch time but found a way to edge Arkansas-Monticello and remain perfect in GAC play after defeating the Cotton Blossoms 85-80 on Thursday night in Weatherford.
UAM managed to cut SWOSU's large fourth lead down to just one single point with 21 seconds to go, but
Hayden Priddy and
Taylor Hedrick iced the game by knocking down all four of their free throws after the Cotton Blossoms were forced to foul to extend the game. The Lady Bulldogs were outscored 28-21 in the final quarter, but escaped Thursday night with their fifth straight conference victory of the season.
SWOSU built its lead predominantly in the third quarter, where the Lady Dawgs began with a five-point lead out of the halftime locker room and managed to grow it to double digits by the end of the frame. At the start of the fourth quarter, SWOSU again put the pressure on by scoring eight of the quarter's first 10 points – giving them their biggest lead of the game, leading the Cotton Blossoms by 18 points.
UAM's Idalis Rubalcava gave Monticello their much needed spark in the fourth quarter, scoring 12 of her 20 points in the final 10 minutes. Behind her 12 points and three three-pointers from Charlynn Perry, the Cotton Blossoms clawed their way back in the game.
Arguably the most important basket of the game came courtesy of
Hailey Tucker. Following a made three-point shot from Perry that made the game a one possession contest with 1:25 left in the game, Tucker answered on the other end of the court with a three pointer of her own to push the lead back to six points. UAM went on another run to get within one point, but failed to ever tie or take the lead in the closing seconds.
Four starters finished in double figures for SWOSU, led by Tucker with 23 points while also adding seven rebounds, two assists, and three blocks to her stat sheet.
Tyra Aska tallied 18 points, while dishing out four assists and grabbing two steals.
Hayden Priddy added 15 points and a team best six assists, and
Bethany Franks finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds for her second consecutive double-double of the season.
As a team, the Lady Bulldogs shot 48.4% from the field on 31-of-64 shooting, compared to UAM who shot 44.4% on 32-of-72 overall. Thursday was the first game all season SWOSU failed to acquire more steals than its opponent (UAM 11, SWOSU 6), but the Dawgs overcame that statistic and collected the victory.
No. 17/19 SWOSU (10-1, 5-0 GAC) will now welcome Southern Arkansas inside the Pioneer Cellular Event Center on Saturday for an afternoon matchup against another league foe.
