Amanda Grappe scored 22 of her game-high 26 points in the second half as the Arkansas Tech University women’s basketball team used a big second-half run to knock off Ouachita Baptist, 75-66, Thursday during Gulf South Conference West Division play at Bill Vining Arena.
Grappe was 11-of-17 from the floor and 3-of-7 from the foul line to lead all scorers. Rachel Brazell added 13 points and Nikki Earles had 11 as the Golden Suns (18-6 overall, 8-3 GSC West) were 25-of-49 (51 percent) shooting, including going 15-of-24 (63 percent) in the second half.
Gabby Coleman paced the Lady Tigers (17-7, 6-5) with 16 points as Ouachita lost for the first time this season at Bill Vining Arena. Tamara Robinson and A’Laeshia Adams each had 10 points as the Lady Tigers were 18-of-48 (38 percent) from the floor.
Despite having a 34-29 lead at the break, Ouachita went cold from the floor, allowing Arkansas Tech to use a 13-8 run to grab a 52-42 lead after a pair of free throws by Brazell with 8:44 remaining.
The Lady Tigers kept the game close, but the Golden Suns were too much, taking their largest lead 64-51 with 5:15 left after two free throws by Brazell. Ouachita couldn’t get any closer than six points, 72-66, with 22 seconds remaining after a Melissa Richardson 3-pointer in falling at home.
The Lady Tigers play 5:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 21 at Southern Arkansas in a Gulf South Conference West Division game in Magnolia, Ark. The game can be heard on the Ouachita Baptist University Athletic Web site at: www.obutigers.com.
