ADA, Okla. – The East Central University women's basketball team hosted its first home game of the 2022-23 season, falling 72-59 to the Crimson Storm of Southern Nazarene University.
 
"I thought our effort was really good," Head Coach Matt Cole said. "SNU is very talented and well-coached. Their second-quarter run really was the difference in the game."
 
The Tigers (3-3, 0-2 GAC) cut what was a 14-point deficit in the third quarter down to just four near the end of the fourth quarter, but the Crimson Storm went on a 13-5 scoring run in the final three minutes to pull away for the win.
 
The major difference in the game was SNU's shooting in the second quarter, outscoring ECU 21-9 in the frame to give them a 35-23 lead going into halftime. ECU tied SNU 14-14 in the first quarter, outscored the Crimson Storm 18-16 in the third, and was behind 21-18 in the last quarter.
 
Mackenzie Crusoe led the Tigers with 19 points, a new season-high for the guard. She was 2-for-3 on three-pointers, 7-for-12 overall, and tied for a team-high eight rebounds.
 
Ashlyn Evans-Thompson also reached double-figures in scoring with 15 points. She was 5-for-10 from the floor and made all four free-throw attempts. She also added two steals.
 
Emily Wilson scored nine points in the game, going 2-for-2 from the three-point range and 3-for-4 from the free-throw line while adding eight boards.
 
The East Central University women's basketball team will hit the road Saturday, Dec. 10 to take on Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford, OK at 1:00 p.m.