Box Score

BETHANY, Okla. – For the second straight game, the Southern Arkansas women's basketball team had their offense in high-gear as they scored a season-high 80 points. On Thursday night in the Sawyer Center, however, the Lady Muleriders could not translate that scoring total into a win as they ran into a hot-shooting Southern Nazarene team that shot 56% from the field for the game en route to a 95-80 win over Southern Arkansas.
 
Early action in the conference showdown was tight as the game saw eight lead changes and two tie scores through the first 10 and a half minutes of the first half. With 9:31 remaining in the opening period, the Crimson Storm (13-9, 10-6 GAC) recaptured a lead, and then began to pull away as they extended that lead to as much as nine points, 38-29, with 3:54 remaining in the half.
 
It was from there that the Lady Muleriders (0-21, 0-16 GAC) would go on one of  their characteristic rallies as they rattled off a 10-0 run to close out the half and take a one-point lead into the locker room, 39-38.
 
Immediately coming out of the break, the Lady Muleriders would extend their lead out to four points, 42-38, as Bria Snowden drained a three-pointer on the team's initial possession of the second half. Over the next five minutes, the game was back-and-forth as the lead would change hands on three occasions.
 
The final lead change of the game was in favor of the Crimson Storm and came at the 15:08 mark of the second half when Annie Kassongo broke a 50-all tie on a layup in the paint. From there, the Crimson Storm would pull away as their hot shooting grew hotter as they knocked down 14 of their final 23 shots from the floor for a percentage of 61%.
 
Statistically, the Lady Muleriders were led by Katherine McBride in several categories. The sophomore guard led all scorers with a career-high 30 points. She also led all players in assists with seven and steals with six.
 
The Lady Muleriders will next be in action in a week from this evening as they will remain on the road and take on Harding University on Thursday, February 21st. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.