[December 1, 2007]

Contact: Houston Taylor

MONTICELLO, Ark. – Southern Arkansas used a 69-57 win over Paul Quinn (Texas) College Saturday at Steelman Fieldhouse to earn a split in the Arkansas-Monticello Mary Jane Gilbert Classic. The Lady Muleriders were defeated, 69-60, Friday by Pittsburg State (Kan.).

True freshman center Laura Shuggs (Horatio) scored a season and game-high 23 points and pulled down eight rebounds in leading SAU past the Tigers Saturday. She knocked down nine of 12 shots and hit all five free throws. Goldie White chipped in 17 points, and Calisha Kirk added 10.

SAU was in control from the outset for the most part, trailing only once at 8-6 in the early part of the first half. Kirk’s lay-up at 2:06 gave Southern Arkansas a 31-20 advantage before they took a 32-25 edge into halftime.

White’s lay-up at 15:43 in the second pushed SAU to a double-digit lead (43-33) that they never relinquished. Another White lay-up provided their largest margin, 62-45, with 6:41 remaining, before coasting to the win.

Southern Arkansas (4-4) shot the ball well, hitting 26 of 51 shots to finish at 51 percent. A 14 for 24 (58.3) second half performance aided that cause. Getting the shots to fall from the floor proved important as they were a dismal 14 of 31 from the charity stripe for 45.2 percent. PQC attempted just five free throws, connecting on all of them, as the Lady Muleriders committed only eight fouls the entire game.

Paul Quinn (1-6) out-muscled SAU 45-32 on the boards, but couldn’t convert on second chances. Southern Arkansas committed just 11 turnovers, while forcing 24 Tiger miscues which they converted into 23 points.

Frances Hood led PQC with 22 points, Robyn Hockenhull added 11, and Shereel Brown grabbed 10 boards.

White scored 18 points in Friday’s loss to Pittsburg State (4-1), and Kirk had 15 and seven rebounds.

The Lady Muleriders play their seventh consecutive road game Monday when they travel to Hawkins, Texas, to face Jarvis Christian in a 5:30 p.m. tip-off.