SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – Not being able to get a bucket to fall in the first seven minutes sealed the fate of the East Central University women's basketball team in their 54-76 loss to Angelo State, in the final day of the St. Mary's Thanksgiving Classic.

The Tigers (1-5, 0-2 GAC) were led by junior Aalyiah Blakley, who tallied a season-best 15 points and eight rebounds.  The Ada, Okla., native shot .500 (5-of-10) from the floor and 4-of-7 from three-point range.  Senior Whitney Stotler added nine points, five boards and a block.

ECU had a very slow start to the game, while the Belles (3-0) came out ready to play.  In the first seven minutes, the Tigers were held without a point, while Angelo State racked up 20.  It was another minute before ECU netted it first field goal, making the score 3-22 with 1:38 left in the first quarter. Both teams added six more points in the final 1:30 for a 9-28 score at the end of the first 10 minutes.

The Belles kept up the pressure in the second quarter and out-scored the Tigers, 15-21 for a 24-49 disadvantage for ECU at the intermission.

The Tigers had a much better second half, out-scoring ASU 13-10 in the third quarter and pulling even in the fourth, but it was not enough to overcome the early deficit and they fell 54-76.

ECU ended the game shooting 40.4 (19-of-47), with the Belles adding a 38.9 (21-of-54) percentage.  The key advantage for ASU came at the charity stripe, going 28-of-34, while only allowing the Tigers to make 17 trips (nine makes).

ECU finally get to open the home portion of the 2016-17 season for their final outing before the holiday break, as they are set to host Henderson State and Ouachita Baptist this week at the Kerr Activities Center.  The Reddies will come to Ada, Thursday, Dec. 1 for a 5:30 p.m. game, while Ouachita will be in town Saturday, Dec. 3 at 1 p.m.