ADA, Okla. – After trailing by 11 early in the final quarter, the East Central University women's basketball team rallied to earn an 84-82 victory over Southern Arkansas at the Kerr Activities Center.

Photo Gallery

Scoring

• 1^st Quarter: 25-23
  • The Tigers (6-5, 3-4 GAC) and the Muleriders (7-5, 2-4 GAC) kept things close in the opening half of the stanza
  • Each team used small runs that resulted in a 13-all tie, with four minutes remaining
  • SAU then used an 8-0 run in the next 30 seconds to gain the lead
  • ECU countered with a 12-2 run in the remaining time to take a two-point advantage
• 2^nd Quarter: 18-27 (43-50)
  • The teams again fought back-and-forth in the first five minutes, with the Muleriders holding a 38-36 advantage
  • SAU again pushed ahead with an 8-0 run in the next 1:45
  • The Tigers cut the deficit to three over the next 15 seconds (44-41)
  • The Muleriders ended the half on a 6-2 run to hold the lead at seven
• 3^rd Quarter: 20-20 (63-70)
  • The entire quarter was a back-and-forth battle for control
  • The Tigers used several small runs to force a tie at 62, with three minutes left on the clock
  • SAU countered with an 8-1 run in the final minutes to regain the seven-point lead
• 4^th Quarter: 21-12 (84-82)
  • The Muleriders continued to push and gained an 11-point lead, with nine minutes left to play
  • ECU then started their final push
    • Used an 8-1 run over the next 2:15 to cut the deficit to four (71-75)
  • SAU added a 4-0 run to regain an eight-point advantage in the next 1:45 (79-71)
  • The Tigers then took control and used an 8-2 run in the final five minutes to tie the game at 82, with 45 seconds remaining
  • Both teams picked up their defense, but a foul by the Muleriders, with four seconds left, sent RSr. Madison Rehl to the free throw line
    • Made both free throws to secure the win

Tiger Quick Shots

• Both teams shot well from the floor
  • FG: ECU 32-of-70 (45.7%) / SAU 30-of-67 (44.8%)
• The Muleriders earned a clear lead from shots behind the arc, but the difference came at the free-throw line
  • 3PT FG: ECU 3-of-11 (27.3%) / SAU 14-of-29 (48.3%)
  • FT: ECU 17-of-21 (81.0%) / SAU 8-of-19 (42.1%)
• The Tigers also took advantage of SAU's 20 turnovers, earned 10 steals and netting 29 points off turnovers
• RSr. Madison Rehl hit the final two free throws to earn the win for ECU
  • 22 pts., 8 reb., 1 assist, 2 steals, 7-of-11 FG, 1-of-2 3PT FG, 7-of-9 FT
  • Moved up on four of her nine ECU Career Top-10 Lists
    • No. 1 Games Played – 114
    • No. 3 Assists – 265
    • No. 5 Games Scoring in Double Digits – 61
    • No. 10 Steals – 121
• RFr. Mackenzie Crusoe and RSo. Alexis Lyons also added double-digit point totals
  • Crusoe: 20 pts., 5 reb., 6 assists, 1 block, 2 steals, 9-of-18 FG, 2-of-2 FT
    • Career high for assists and field goals made
  • Lyons: 13 pts., 3 reb., 2 blocks, 6-of-9 FG
    • Career high for points and field goals made
• RSo. Izzy Cummins garnered a career-best seven rebounds and five made free throws
• Head Coach Matt Cole recorded his 99^th career victory in the outing

Up Next

• The Tigers will remain at home for their next game
  • Saturday, Jan. 8 vs. Arkansas-Monticello – 1 p.m.
• ECU will then split the next week on the road and at home
  • Thursday, Jan. 13 at Southeastern – 5:30 p.m.
  • Saturday, Jan. 15 vs. Southern Nazarene – 1 p.m.