DURANT, Okla. – The East Central University women's basketball team traveled south to Durant on Thursday to face rivals Southeastern Oklahoma State University. The Tigers entered the game on a four-game win streak following their loss to the Savage Storm but were unable to avenge that loss, falling 71-61 in the fourth quarter.
 
With the loss, ECU drops to 7-9 in GAC play, while Southeastern improves to 8-8 in league play and extends its winning streak to six games.
 
The Tigers started strong in the first quarter, outscoring the Storm 17-15. Multiple Tigers fueled the early run, as Jayden Weiberg led the way with six points, while Eva Fernandez and Katie Edelen combined for nine points.
 
ECU entered the second quarter hoping to build on its two-point lead and apply pressure to the Savage Storm. The Tigers held the lead for much of the quarter, extending it to as many as six points thanks to a jumper from Edelen. But Southeastern answered with seven points to reclaim the lead at 28-27. In the final three minutes, the Savage Storm went on a 7-1 scoring run to lead 35-31 by halftime.
 
Lead changes defined the matchup, and in the third quarter, the Tigers regained the lead just two minutes in as nine straight points, sparked by Edelen and Weiberg, gave ECU a 40-37 advantage. The lead would change two more times, with a pair of free throws from Claire Dannefer and baskets from Edelen pushing the Tigers back in front 48-45. But Southeastern knocked down three points to even the score heading into the final frame.
 
Southeastern struck first in the fourth, but ECU answered behind Edelen and Natalie Millwood, whose jumper cut the deficit to one at 53-52. Key three-pointers and a 9-1 scoring run allowed the Savage Storm to separate themselves with five minutes remaining. ECU tried to answer back but put up their lowest scoring frame, which was not enough as they fell 71-61.
 
Katie Edelen finished with a game-high 26 points, shooting 52.6 percent from the field and 6-for-7 from the free throw line, while Jayden Weiberg added nine points on 3-of-5 shooting from beyond the arc. Rylie Burnett grabbed a team-high seven rebounds.