WEATHERFORD, Okla. – The Southern Arkansas Lady Mulerider Basketball team scored 51 second-half points, but was unable to overcome a slow start on Saturday afternoon as they were downed by Southwestern Oklahoma State, 98-80, in Great American Conference action inside the Pioneer Cellular Event Center.  
 
The Lady Muleriders (13-6, 9-6 GAC) trailed by 24 points at the intermission, but fought back in the second half and eventually cut their deficit to seven points with 2:08 remaining in the game, before the Lady Bulldogs (13-8, 9-6 GAC) closed the game on an 11-0 run that included going 7-of-8 at the charity stripe.
 
SAU's second half run was aided by a +19 scoring margin in points off of turnovers including 13 in the fourth quarter, while outscoring SWOSU in the paint 24-8 in the second half. The Lady Bulldogs outscored SAU in bench points as Jessica Penner and Jennifer Williams combined for 23 points, while Alyssa Hamilton added six bench points for the Lady Muleriders.
 
Southwestern Oklahoma shot over 53% (8-of-15) from beyond the arc in the second half including a trio of trifectas at the start of the fourth quarter that stalled the Lady Mulerider comeback attempt.
 
Rosa Bryant led the way for Southern Arkansas with 22 points, nine rebounds, four assists and a pair of steals in 39 minutes of action. Classmate Tierra Tucker followed with 18 points and Caroline Ficher rounded out double-figure scoring for the Lady Muleriders with a career-high 17 points in 26 minutes.
 
SAU returns to action on Thursday, February 11, in Arkadelphia, Arkansas for a GAC affair with the Reddies. Tip-off from inside the Duke Wells Center is slated for 5:30 p.m. The Lady Muleriders defeated Henderson State 78-70 on January 14, behind a career-high 17 points from Jaida Harden.
 
Be sure to visit muleriderathletics.com for continuing coverage of Lady Mulerider basketball including pregame and postgame updates and the coach's show with head coach Julio Pacheco.