The Ouachita Lady Tigers defeated the University of Arkansas at Monticello Cotton Blossoms 82-68 on Tuesday, after the Lady Tigers grabbed a season-high 21 offensive rebounds to score 21 second-chance points.
“We feel like we play harder than they do, and I think you can tell that by rebounding,” head coach Garry Crowder said. “I thought early in the game we looked flat, but once we got going I thought that was a big key.”
The Lady Tigers grabbed a total of 47 rebounds, 17 more than the Cotton Blossoms. Nashia James led Ouachita with nine rebounds, six of them offensive. James also earned 15 points, four assists, three steals and one block. Elise Holman scored a team-high 16 points, as her and the rest of the Lady Tigers shot 39% from the field and a season-high 84.6% from the free-throw line.
The teams traded leads 13 times in the first half until the Lady Tigers stole the lead on a 10-0 scoring run and eventually ended the half with the 39-34 lead. In the second half, the Lady Tigers never allowed UAM to take the lead, holding the Cotton Blossoms to 34.5% shooting from the field and 25% from behind the arc.
“A lot of times in these games in the second half, we have not responded when teams have made runs at us. We have had leads that we have lost and lost the game. I really thought in the second half, especially early on, Ashley Johnson came in and really did a nice job defensively,” Crowder said.
Crowder gave Johnson the task of guarding UAM’s Jordan Goforth, who scored 14 points in the first half but only eight in the second.
Along with her 16 points, Holman grabbed five boards. Katie Kapler scored 12 points and snatched five rebounds, and Katherine West finished with 10 points and four assists.
The Lady Tigers (4-11, 2-7) will travel across the street on Thursday, Jan. 23, to take on the Henderson State Lady Reddies in the Battle of the Ravine. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
By: Brandon Smith
