Clarksville, Ark.- Mandi Carter's 29 points weren't enough as No. 9 McMurry University handed the University of the Ozarks a 82-69 loss in American Southwest Conference play on Saturday night.
<#IMAGE:1#>McMurry (7-0, 5-0) had an impressive first half, shooting 53 percent from the field, including 7-of-8 from the three-point line, and 80 percent from the free throw line. That helped the visitors hold a big 49-27 advantage at intermission. Meanwhile, the Lady Eagles struggled from the floor, hitting only 7-of-22 in the first twenty mintues of action. They did nail 11 of their 13 first half free throw attempts. McMurry cooled off considerably in the second half, shooting only 34 percent from the field. But it was Carter who took over the game as she scored 21 second half points, highlighted by a stretch in which she scored 11 points over a five-minute span. Trailing 60-33 with 15:17 remaining, Chandra Briggs and Carter hit back-to-back three-pointers to get the Lady Eagles within 21 points. Ozarks slowly chiseled into the deficit, going on a 25-16 run over the next 11 minutes to make the score 76-64. It was a little too late, however, as McMurry answered the challenge with a pair of clutch shots and free throws down the stretch. Carter helped the Lady Eagles out score the visitors 42-33 in the second half. Carter finished with a game-high 29 points, and hit 12-of-14 from the free throw line. Jeanne Randall added 17 points and a team-best 8 rebounds. Ozarks will host Hendrix College on January 2 in their next game.
Topics: Athletics