BETHANY, OKLA. – For the first time since the 1985-86 season the East Central University women's basketball team picked up a victory over Southern Nazarene on the road with a 55-49 win at the Sawyer Center in Great American Conference action.

Photo Gallery

The Tigers (9-2, 5-0 GAC) were paced by senior Dilan Webster, who tallied 19 points, eight rebounds and four assists.  Webster was one of four players to end up with double-digits in the scoring column, while senior Ashleigh Kelman-Poto added 11 and seniors Janee Garza and Erin Walling each garnering 10.

The Crimson Storm (5-7, 2-4 GAC) opened the game with a 5-0 run in the first two minutes and continued with a 10-2 run until 13:23 remained on the clock.  ECU turned up the pressure and used an 8-2 run over the next three minutes to cut the deficit to two (10-12). 

The teams then traded runs and points to put the Tigers down by just one (18-19), with 5:30 left.  SNU rattled off a 9-4 run in the remaining time to take a 22-28 lead into the locker room.

The Tigers came roaring out of the locker room and used a 14-4 run in the first 5:30 to take their first advantage of the game, 36-32.  ECU kept the pressure on the Crimson Strom throughout the half and kept the lead between four and six points until six minutes remained. 

SNU used a 4-0 run over the next two minutes to cut the deficit to two (49-47), but a jumper from Kelman-Poto snapped the run with 3:40 left to play.

Despite both teams picking up the defense in the final minutes, the Tigers kept the advantage in their favor and out-scored the Crimson Storm 6-2 for the 55-49 victory.

ECU turned the game around in the second half, hitting 40 percent of their shots compared to 26.7 percent in the first.  The Tigers also earned a key advantage at the charity stripe, going 15-of-28 and only allowing SNU to make 14 trips (9 makes).

ECU will now return home for two GAC contests at the Kerr Activities Center, Jan. 8-10.  The Tigers will first face Southern Arkansas, Jan. 8 at 5:30 p.m. and then battle Ouachita Baptist Jan. 10 at 2 p.m.

Notes:  The win at the Sawyer Center broke an 11-game road losing streak against the Crimson Storm…the Tigers last win on the road was Jan. 20, 1986 (73-67).