Clarksville, Ark.-The Mississippi College Lady Choctaws held the lead for less than a minute in the second half, but it was just enough to give the Lady Eagles a 61-57 loss on Saturday in American Southwest Conference play.
Mississippi College’s Yalanda Grady sank a pair of free throws with 55 seconds remaining to give the Lady Choctaws (15-8, 10-8) the lead for good after they never held the lead for the previous 19 minutes of play. Ozarks Chandra Briggs hit a jumper with 8 seconds left get Ozarks within 60-57, but the Lady Choctaws answered with another Grady free throw with 4 seconds remaining. The Lady Eagles (8-15, 6-12) are battling UT-Dallas (10-13, 7-11) and Louisiana College (8-14, 6-12) for a playoff spot. UT-Dallas does hold the tie-breaker over Ozarks having handed the Lady Eagles a pair of losses during the regular season. The Lady Eagles and Louisiana College split during the regular season. The Lady Eagles held a narrow 32-30 lead at the half behind Mandi Carter’s 14-point, 8-rebound performance. Ozarks held the lead for most of the first half, including a 25-15 advantage at the 6:02 mark when Kara Bartholomew hit a jumper. Ozarks owned a pair of 8-point leads in the second half, with the second coming with 4:47 remaining when Erica Eneks nailed a three-pointer. It was from that point, however, that the Lady Choctaws out scored Ozarks 14-2. Carter finished with her ninth double-double of the season after scoring 16 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Eneks added 15 points and Jeanne Randall contributed 10 points. Ozarks will end the season by hosting East Texas Baptist University on February 15 and LeTourneau University on February 17.
Topics: Athletics