DURANT, Okla. – The Southern Arkansas University Lady Mulerider basketball team received 18 points and nine rebounds from junior forward Rosa Bryant, but Southeastern Oklahoma used ten three-pointers and held off an SAU surge in the second half to take the Great American Conference matchup, 71-56 inside Bloomer Sullivan Arena on Thursday evening.
 
The Lady Muleriders fell to (5-15, 3-11 GAC) on the season as the Lady Bulldogs improved to (14-7, 7-6 GAC).
 
Southeastern Oklahoma opened the game on a 10-2 run to the 14:19 mark of the first half. Tierra Tucker connected on 1-of-2 free throw attempts and Lauren Lee scored inside to make it a two possession deficit, 10-5.
 
Each team struggled to find the bottom of the basket in the opening half, but the Lady Bulldogs managed to rebuild their lead as they led by nine with 7:52 remaining in the first half of play. SOSU's Emily Williams proceeded to go on a personal scoring spree as the Lady Bulldog converted a three-point attempt and sank four consecutive free throws all within 30 seconds to give Southeastern Oklahoma a 24-8 lead with 5:09 to play before intermission.
 
A Barvion Wyatt put back and a pair of Tierra Tucker free throws rounded out the first half scoring for the Lady Muleriders as they trailed SOSU 27-12 at the break.
 
After shooting just over 13% (2-of-15) from beyond the arc in the first half, the Lady Bulldogs connected on 8-of-15 (53.3%) shooting from three-point range. Bryant dropped 11 of her previously mentioned 18 points in the first seven minutes of the second half to allow the Lady Muleriders to hang around, down 13, 40-27.
 
Chanel Miller scored at the 12:46 mark of the second half to bring SAU to within 11 points, but SOSU dialed up three treys, a paint bucket and a pair of free throws on five of their next seven trips down the floor to push their lead to 19, 53-34.
 
Nearing the 4:30 mark of the second half, Cemetra Jenkins knocked down two free throws to pull SAU within 15 before Bryant added a free throw and a high percentage jumper to cut the Lady Mulerider deficit to 12, 61-49. Miranda Grier added two more buckets from the free throw stripe to pull SAU within 10, the closest they would get down the stretch. SOSU took advantage at the line to pull away during the final minutes.
 
Bryant led Southern Arkansas with 18 points and nine rebounds in 19 minutes of action. Jenkins added 11 points while Grier scored nine and snagged nine rebounds.
 
The Oklahoma road trip continues for the Lady Muleriders as they travel north to Bethany for a matchup with Southern Nazarene. Tip-off from the Sawyer Center is scheduled for 1 p.m.