BETHANY, Okla. – The East Central University women's basketball team erased a 16-point third-quarter deficit, but ultimately dropped the road match against No. 10 Southern Nazarene University 63-49 on Saturday afternoon inside Sayer Center.
 
ECU dropped to 7-15 overall and 3-15 in conference play while SNU remains at the top of the league standings.
 
Mackenzie Crusoe opened the scoring with a jumper to get ECU on the scoreboard first. SNU answered back with a basket of their own to knot the score, but Kennedy Cummings and Kate Ogle nailed a couple of three-pointers, giving the Tigers a six-point lead of 8-2 with 7:21 remaining in the period. However, SNU managed to hold ECU scoreless for a stretch while adding nine points themselves to take a narrow 11-10 lead by the end of the quarter.
 
While the Tigers kept the game close initially, the hosts dominated in the second quarter, outscoring ECU 23-11 to separate themselves heading into halftime.
 
The Tigers adjusted in the third quarter, outscoring SNU 14-10, their lowest-scoring quarter, to chip away at the deficit. Down 44-30 with four minutes left in the quarter, ECU went on a five-point run to cut the lead to nine heading into the final period.
 
Crusoe kicked off the fourth quarter strong with a three-pointer and a jumper, bringing the Tigers within four points at 44-40 and giving hope for a comeback. However, SNU responded with eight unanswered points, extending their lead to double-digits, which they maintained until the final buzzer.
 
Mackenzie Crusoe led once again with 16 points, going 4-for-12 from the floor and 7-of-8 from the free throw line.
 
Kennedy Cummings picked up eight points while Jayden Weiberg and Natalie Payne added six each.
 
The ECU women's basketball team will return to Ada to face Henderson State and Ouachita Baptist on Feb. 22^nd and 24^th.