MAGNOLIA, Ark. – The East Central University women's basketball team earned its first Great American Conference win of the season with a thrilling 79-76 victory over Southern Arkansas University on the road.
 
This is the first win for Heather Hurt since being named Interim Head Coach.
 
"I am very proud of our group. We fought with great effort and togetherness," said Hurt. "We stepped up to the challenge and fought through adversity."
 
SAU opened up the game up 6-2 until ECU went on a 9-0 to take their first lead of the night. The Muleriders managed to close the gap midway through the first period and led 26-20 going into the second.
 
The second period saw both teams struggle from the field as Mackenzie Crusoe's jumper was the only shot made in the first five minutes of the quarter. The Muleriders heated up with a 7-0 run and built their lead as high as 10 points before settling for a 39-32 lead over the Tigers at the half.
 
SAU and ECU traded buckets for most of the third quarter, allowing the Mulriders to maintain their lead 57-49 going into the final quarter.
 
The Tigers caught fire in the fourth quarter as they shot a game-best 75% to claw their way back from down 10 points to tie it 75-75 with less than a minute to go. SAU went up one on a free throw before ECU finished the game off with a jumper from Emily Wilson and two free throws from Izzy Cummins to secure the win 79-76.

"A lot of players stepped up and had great games," said Hurt. "Emily Wilson hit two big shots to put us up, and Mackenzie Crusoe was great all night. It was a team effort, and I am very proud of every single one of them."

Five Tigers scored in double figures - Mackenzie Crusoe, Kate Ogle, Izzy Cummins, Emily Wilson, and Ashlyn Evans-Thompson.

Crusoe led the way with a season-high 23 points. She went 8-for-10 from the field and 7-for-9 from the free-throw line while adding five assists, four rebounds, and three steals.

Ogle was next with 13 points, going 6-for-11 from the floor and adding six boards.

Cummins scored 12 points and recorded a team-high 8 rebounds, while Emily Wilson went 3-for-3 from the field to give her 11 points and Evans-Thompson scored 10 going 3-for-7 from the floor.

The East Central University women's basketball team will finish their Arkansas road trip with a matchup against Arkansas-Monticello Saturday, Jan. 14 at 1:00 p.m.