SHAWNEE, Okla. – The East Central University women's basketball team faced Oklahoma Baptist University in its regular-season finale Saturday. It was a back-and-forth battle throughout, but the Bison added a bucket in the final seconds to edge the Tigers, 67–66, inside Noble Complex.
Despite slipping to 11–11 in Great American Conference play, the Tigers now turn their attention to the Great American Conference Tournament in Fort Smith. As the No. 7 seed, ECU will face No. 2 Northwestern Oklahoma State University on Thursday, March 5 at 2:15 p.m., tipping off the GAC women's quarterfinal matchups.
The first quarter opened with a win on the tip and a basket from
Katie Edelen. Both teams traded buckets until
Jayden Weiberg continued her hot streak from the three-point line on an assist from
Makenzy Herman. Although ECU got crucial baskets from
Ella Lavigne and
Claira Dannefer, they ended the first quarter trailing 21-17.
Edelen scored to give the Tigers momentum at the start of the second quarter, followed by a three-pointer from Riley Burnett. Burnett stayed efficient for ECU, adding another basket to cut the deficit to 24–26 after her shot from beyond the arc fell through the net. ECU fought to contain the Bison but went into the locker room down 29–32 at halftime.
Through the first half, ECU shot 36.3% from the field, going 12-of-33. Defensively, the Tigers worked to contain the Bison, but they needed to capitalize on their scoring opportunities to silence the home crowd on senior night.
Burnett and Edelen both scored early in the third quarter, bringing ECU within one.
Natalie Milwood poked the ball free, and a foul on Edelen helped the Tigers take a 35–34 lead. The teams exchanged the lead three times before OBU created separation with a made three-pointer.
Heading into the final 10 minutes, the score stood at 47–50. Dannefer hit a jumper to give ECU the lead once again. The game was tied 63–63 with 1:37 remaining, with Edelen scoring six points in the quarter. Dannefer and Milwood also contributed key baskets for the Tigers.
OBU scored with less than a minute left, but a banked three from Milwood kept ECU's hopes alive with 15 seconds remaining. Oklahoma Baptist heaved a jumper that dropped with six seconds left, making the score 66–67. Milwood's last-second attempt fell short, sealing the win for the Bison.
Edelen finished with 20 points and seven rebounds for ECU. Burnett and Milwood each added 11 points. As a team, the Tigers shot 27-of-60 from the field and 54.5% from three-point range.
