WEATHERFORD, OKLA. – The East Central University women's basketball team gave Great American Conference leader, Southwestern Oklahoma State, a test on their home court, but ended up falling 90-80.

The Tigers (4-7, 3-4 GAC) were paced by junior Lakin Preisner, who tallied 20 points, six rebounds, two blocks and a steal.  Senior Devon Branch added 18 points, four boards, an assist and a block.

The game started out close, with things knotted at five after the first 2:15.  However, the Bulldogs (12-1, 7-0 GAC) then used a 13-3 run over the next four minutes to push the lead out to 18-8.  SWOSU kept pushing and ended the first stanza with a 29-15 advantage.

In the first 1:30 minutes of the second quarter the Bulldogs pushed the lead out to 18 (35-17).  That is when ECU started to fight back.  The Tigers used several small runs through the quarter, including a 9-0 run in the final three minutes to cut the deficit to two (45-43), with 1:32 remaining.  SWOSU then used a 5-1 run in the remaining time to take a 51-44 lead into the locker room.

The Tigers came out of the locker room and went on a 4-0 run in the first minute to get the lead back to three (51-48).  Both teams went cold for a minute and then traded points until the final 2:30 of the stanza.  In the final minutes the Bulldogs used an 8-3 run to push the advantage back to 74-67.

SWOSU kept pushing and built the lead back to 10 (79-69), with a 5-2 run in the first two minutes of the fourth quarter.  The teams traded shots and runs for the remaining time in the fourth quarter, with SWOSU taking the 90-80 victory.

The Tigers will now return home to face Southern Nazarene, Saturday, Jan. 13 at 1 p.m. at the Kerr Activities Center.