WEATHERFORD – The SWOSU women's basketball team claimed a second straight Great American Conference victory on Saturday, defeating Southern Arkansas 66-58. SWOSU avenges a previous loss in Magnolia with the win.
Everything was clicking on both sides of the court for SWOSU in the first three minutes. They turned SAU over four times and hit their first four three-pointers to jump out to a 12-0 lead. SWOSU would force eight total Mulerider turnovers in the opening period.
Both teams played lightning fast defensively. Full court pressures caused havoc for the offenses. SWOSU had 19 turnovers, the second most they have committed in a game this year. Fortunately, they forced 26 Southern Arkansas turnovers and scored 20 points off them. The defensive prowess of SWOSU also cut 15 points off SAU's scoring average.
After the swift dozen points from the Lady Bulldogs, SAU settled in and closed the first quarter down six. This would be the halftime point differential as well following a low scoring second quarter that saw the two teams shoot a combined 30% from the floor.
Six lead changes, including five straight possessions of the lead changing, came in the third. SWOSU took momentum into the final period after a 9-1 run at the finish.
Libbi Zinn sparked the run with a three and scored all of her seven points in the game during the stretch.
A 20-point fourth quarter sealed the win for SWOSU. The Lady Dawgs pushed the lead to as many as 11 during the last 10 minutes and never let it get below five.
Mason Jones led all Lady Bulldog scorers with 12 points.
Averi Zinn totaled a career-tying eight assists for the second straight game and 11 points. Eight SWOSU players scored five-plus points in the victory.
SWOSU finished with 10 made threes on the day, third most in 2023-24. In the first meeting, Southern Arkansas made 14 three-pointers and shot 54% from beyond the arc, but SWOSU limited them to just 36% today.
This improves the Lady Bulldogs' record to 12-8 and 9-5 in the GAC. They now look toward their final Arkansas road trip of the season when they travel to Ouachita Baptist on February 8 at 5:30 pm.
