Lady Tigers Basketball Team Strengthens GAC Lead With Victory Over Arkansas Tech

Courtesy OBU Athletics Department

ARKADELPHIA, Ark.- Although it’s still fairly early in the conference season, the Ouachita Lady Tigers (11-1, 6-0 GAC) continued their tear through the conference on Thursday night, downing the Arkansas Tech Golden Suns by a final score of 84-81 in overtime. The Lady Tigers seemed to have it locked up at the end of regulation, but a buzzer beating shot from Roselis Silva sent the game into an extra period.

After the first half, the Lady Tigers held a four point advantage over the Golden Suns due to their defensive pressure. The Lady Tigers only allowed a 33.3 percent mark from the floor from Tech, doing everything in their power to shut down Silva and Tech’s Jessica Weatherford

In the second half, foul trouble was the name of the game for Arkansas Tech, as both Silva and Weatherford played much of the half with four fouls, with Weatherford fouling out with 43 seconds remaining in the overtime period. Ouachita led pretty much the entire overtime period, with just one tie forced by the Golden Suns.

Ouachita’s Monica Williams stepped up big in the second half, scoring 19 of her 23 during the period. She also added 11 rebounds, notching her sixth double-double of the year. Nashia James was a huge part in the Lady Tigers’ offensive gameplan, knocking in 20 points of her own while adding four assists. Kendra Coyle and Breanna Harris were both solid contributors, adding 13 points to the team’s totals.

For Arkansas Tech, Silva was sensational, recording 27 points and six steals in the contest and doing everything in her power to keep her team’s hopes of a victory alive. Weatherford, despite struggling with foul trouble, was still able to record 18 points while grabbing eight rebounds, putting her very close to her averages on the season.

The Lady Tigers don’t have much of a chance to catch their breath after the victory, as they head to Searcy to take on the Lady Bisons of Harding University on Saturday. Harding currently holds an 8-4 record this season, including a 4-2 mark in Great American Conference play. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Saturday.

-Josh Fink, Sports Information Director