By Lacey McAdoo

ADA- The East Central University women's basketball team fell to Texas Woman's University at the Kerr Activities Center, 46-53, in non-conference action.

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The Tigers (1-3, 1-1 GAC) were led by junior Whitney Stotler, who totaled 14 points and 10 rebounds, for the team's second double-double of the season. Sophomore Alexa Adair added 13 points with three rebounds and one assist.

ECU started off the game by falling behind the Pioneers (3-2) 0-6 in the first three minutes. TWU held the lead the rest of the quarter. Texas Woman's aggressive defense held the Tigers to a 5-11 deficit at the end of the first period.

The Tigers ran into the second period trailing the Pioneers, but decreased the margin halfway through the period. ECU closed in on TWU in the final minute of the half, using a 6-0 run to go into the intermission trailing 20-24.

ECU's continued the momentum in the third quarter, playing neck-and-neck with the Pioneers. The Tigers fought on and racked up seven points in the first three minutes of the third stanza, giving ECU its first lead of the game.  The Tigers kept up the pressure and ended the third period leading 36-35.

Through the first eight minutes of the fourth quarter, ECU trailed TWU by no more than five points and as few as two.  However, in the final minutes the Pioneers pushed the tempo and increased the lead to seven to earn a 46-53 victory.

Overall shooting percentage seemed to be a key to game, as Texas Woman's shot 40.8% overall percentage (20-of-49) to East Central's 29.6% (16-of-54).

The Tigers will be off for the next week before going on the road, Thursday, December 3 at 5:30 p.m. to face Henderson State in Arkadelphia, Ark.