Clarksville, Ark.-The University of the Ozarks women shot 65 percent from the field in the second half and outscored Texas-Dallas 45-31 in the final twenty minutes to earn a 69-60 win Saturday afternoon in American Southwest Conference action.
It was the first loss of the season for Texas-Dallas (9-1, 6-1 ASC), and the win for Ozarks broke a four-game losing skid. After trailing 29-24 at the half, the Lady Eagles (7-4, 3-4 ASC) caught fire, hitting 15-of-23 from the floor in the second half. Jacksonville, Ark. native Tarneisha Scott carried the Lady Comets in the first half, scoring 18 of their 24 points. Texas-Dallas jumped out to a 20-5 lead with 13:58 left in the half, but then hit a scoring drought, enabling the Lady Eagles to slowly climb back into the game. An Alison Villines’ layup at the 7:56 mark cut it to single digits. Ozarks then outscored Texas-Dallas 8-3 in the final three minutes of the half to close within five points.
Ozarks would keep its momentum early in the second half, and tied the game, 33-33, after Villines completed a three-point play. At the midway point, Texas-Dallas suffered another scoring drought, while the Lady Eagles went on a 9-0 burst over the next two minutes. Ozarks maintained a double-digit lead for most of the final nine minutes of play. Ashley Teague’s three-pointer with 4:51 left gave Ozarks its largest lead of the game at 55-40. Villines and Sabrina Goddard scored 12 and 11 points, and went a combined 10-of-13 from the field, in the second half to fuel the comeback. Texas-Dallas struggled from the floor all day, hitting just 19-of-62 (30%) in the contest.
Goddard finished with 23 points, nine rebounds and five blocks. Villines added 15 points.
Ozarks will travel to Springdale to face Ecclesia College January 3.
Topics: Athletics