ADA, Okla. – The East Central University women's basketball team defended their home floor Thursday night, earning a hard-fought 55-49 victory over Southern Nazarene University in Ada.
With the win, ECU improves to 5-2 overall and 1-2 in conference play, while SNU drops to 2-5 and 2-1 in the GAC.
The Tigers delivered a composed performance throughout the night, overcoming a first-half deficit and fending off multiple second-half pushes from the Crimson Storm to secure their first conference win of the season.
ECU trailed 14-10 after the opening quarter and later erased a ten-point deficit before heading into halftime down 28-24 following a jumper from
Tatum Havens.
The third quarter proved decisive as the Tigers used a balanced offensive effort and held the Crimson Storm to just five points, surging ahead to take a 40-33 lead into the final frame. Although SNU found more rhythm in the fourth quarter, ECU maintained control by matching each push and keeping the margin at least two possessions until closing out the 55-49 victory.
The Tigers shot 40 percent from the field and delivered timely scoring runs while limiting SNU to 29.8 percent shooting. Despite the Crimson Storm producing 20 bench points and 16 second-chance points, ECU countered by winning the rebounding battle 40-35, scoring 24 points in the paint, and generating 14 points off turnovers.
Katie Edelen,
Peyton Mosley, and
Eva Fernandez led the way offensively with 13, 12, and 10 points respectively. Edelen added six rebounds and went a perfect 7-for-7 at the free throw line. Mosley shot 5-for-8 from the field, while Fernandez contributed six rebounds and five assists.
ECU returns to action on Saturday, December 13, traveling to Northwestern Oklahoma State University for a 1 p.m. tip-off in Alva.
