ADA, Okla. – The East Central University women's basketball team provided a strong effort against Southern Arkansas University but succumbed to second-half pressure in a hard-fought contest, losing 78-62 on Saturday afternoon inside the Kerr Activities Center.
 
Following the defeat, ECU's record drops to 5-7 overall and 1-7 in conference play.
 
"Southern Arkansas is a talented team," Head Coach Heather Hurt said. "They made shots on us. A lot of well-contested shots over us. We needed to rebound and make more shots to give us a better chance."
 
Despite an initial 5-0 deficit, ECU staged a comeback in the first quarter, with Kennedy Cummings, Mackenzie Crusoe, and Kayley Alt contributing offensively. Trailing 7-5, Cummings leveled the game with a jumper in the paint, Alt's successful free throws gave ECU the lead, and Crusoe's three-pointer extended the Tigers' advantage to four points. By the end of the opening quarter, ECU secured a 14-11 lead.
 
While ECU initially handled the Muleriders full-court press, SAU closed in during the second quarter, eventually taking the lead 27-25 midway through. Cumming's layup had the game all tied up 27-27, but SAU capitalized on turnovers caused by their press, expanding their halftime advantage to double figures, 41-29.
 
After the break, the Muleriders maintained control, reaching their largest lead of 17 points at the 6:43 mark. The Tigers, facing an uphill battle, zoned in and narrowed the gap, finishing the third quarter on a 5-1 scoring run to trail 53-45 heading into the final stanza.
 
The final frame saw both teams going back and forth exchanging baskets and free throws. Although the Tigers began to find the same offensive rhythm they seemed to have at the start of the game, reducing the deficit to four points at 62-58, the Muleriders closed the game on a 16-4 scoring run, securing the final score of 78-62.
 
The Tigers had one of their most balanced attacks, with three players reaching double-digit figures.
 
Cummings was an efficient 5-for-8 from the field and 8-of-8 from the charity stripe en route to her season-high 18 points.
 
Alt posted a career-high 16 points, going 5-for-9 from the floor, four of which came from beyond the arc.
 
Crusoe added 13 points and a team-high seven rebounds.
 
The ECU women's basketball team will hit the road next week to take on Ouachita Baptist and Henderson State on Jan. 18^th and 20^th.