Clarksville, Ark.-The Lady Eagles remain in the thick of the playoff race after posting an important 77-72 win over Mississippi College Saturday afternoon in American Southwest Conference play.
The Lady Eagles (12-10, 8-9 ASC) are tied with Texas-Tyler (10-12, 8-9 ASC) for the fourth and final spot in the ASC East Division. Louisiana College (20-1, 16-1 ASC) leads the division, while Texas-Dallas (17-5, 13-4 ASC) and Mississippi College (16-6, 11-6 ASC) round out the ASC East Division standings.
Ozarks will host nationally-ranked Louisiana College in a rare Monday afternoon game starting a 1:00 p.m. The Lady Eagles will then host LeTourneau University February 17 and Texas-Tyler February 19.
The Lady Eagles shot a solid 57 percent from the field in the second half to overcome a 40-34 halftime deficit. Ozarks trailed the first seven minutes of the second half before hitting the Lady Choctaws with a 10-0 run to take a 58-54 lead with 11:28 left. Mississippi College eventually took a 66-65 advantage with 5:35 remaining, but an Ashley Teague jumper seconds later gave Ozarks the lead for good. Alison Villines hit a clutch shot with 1:57 left to give Ozarks a five-point edge. The Lady Choctaws did cut it to 75-71, but Teague answered with a shot of her own to give the Lady Eagles a four-point cushion with 1:21 left.
Ozarks bolted to a 13-2 lead early in the first half, but that lead didn’t last as Mississippi College slowly climbed back into the game and gained a 27-25 advantage with 4:18 left in the half. The Lady Choctaws then finished the final three minutes on a 9-2 run.
Sabrina Goddard paced Ozarks with 21 points. Alison Villines had 12 points, and April Young added 11.
Topics: Athletics