Clarksville, Ark.-The Lady Eagles overcame a 35-27 halftime deficit and would eventually go up by four points with less than six minutes to play only to see Central Baptist College's Amber Garrett take control down the stretch to help the Mustangs hold on for a 69-63 win Thursday night.
The Lady Eagles (4-11) had trouble stopping Garrett all night, especially when the game was on the line late. Ozarks took its first lead of the second half at the 6:26 mark when April Young nailed a three-pointer. Ozarks then built a 58-54 advantage after a pair of Chelsea Glasscock free throws with 5:55 remaining. But Central Baptist College (5-12) stormed back behind Garrett. Garrett’s jumper at the 4:41 mark gave the Mustangs a 59-58 lead. Ozarks would take a lead for only a short time before Garrett again hit a jumper in the paint to put Central Baptist up 61-60 with 2:26 left. It would be a lead the Mustangs wouldn’t relinquish as Garrett added six more points in the final 1:39 of action.
Ozarks struggled to find any rhythm late in the first half. Glasscock completed a three-point play and then drilled one of her three treys to keep Ozarks close earlier on. The Lady Eagles took a 17-15 lead on Young’s layup at the 10:50 mark. But the Mustangs would outscore Ozarks 20-12 the rest of the way.
Ozarks would eventually make a rally in the second after trailing 45-35 with 15:17 left in the second half. Savannah Carter hit a pair of three-pointers and a jumper during a five-minute stretch to get Ozarks within 50-49.
Young and Glasscock scored 16 points apiece. Carter added 10 points.
Garrett went 11-for-20 from the floor in her 28-point effort.
Ozarks will host UT-Tyler this Saturday at 1:00 p.m. The game can be heard live on www.kxui.nu.
Topics: Athletics