Tweet #theGAC  BARTLESVILLE, Okla. – After building up a massive first-half lead, top-seeded Southeastern Oklahoma State fended off a furious second-half surge from Southern Arkansas to notch an 84-75 win in Thursday’s second Great American Conference Women’s Basketball Championship quarterfinal game from Bruin Fieldhouse.
 
The Savage Storm (20-7) scored the first 12 points of the game and used a 23-2 run that spanned the final 3:29 of the first quarter and the first 5:56 of the second quarter to claim a 39-10 advantage. The lead grew to a big as 33- points before settling in to a 47-17 lead at intermission. GAC Player of the Year Katie Webb and First-Team All-GAC selection Kamryn Cantwell combined for 26 points and Tracy Johnson went 3-for-3 on 3-point tries.
 
They maintained the 30-point cushion for the first half of the third quarter before he Muleriders (17-12) went on a 12-0 burst and finished the third quarter down 18, 65-47. They drew to as close as seven points, 77-70, late in the fourth quarter but the Savage Storm, the nation’s top free-throw shooting team, made 7-of-8 free throws in the final minute to advance to the semifinals for the first time since 2015.
 
Webb and Cantwell led four Savage Storm players to reach double-digit points as they each scored 21 points. Cantwell went 10-for-11 from the free-throw line and team finished 29-for-33. She added eight rebounds, five assists and three blocks. Johnson and Briley Moon each scored 16 points.
 
The Muleriders, back at the GAC Championships for the first time since 2016, forced 24 turnovers. Four different players recorded multiple steals. Diamond Morris and Kylie Warren each scored 14 points in 16 minutes of action.
 
Southeastern Oklahoma State will take on the winner of Friday’s Southern Nazarene and Henderson State quarterfinal contest at 5:45 PM on Saturday. During the regular season, the Savage Storm split their two contests with both the Crimson Storm and Reddies.