ADA, Okla. – With a 62-58 victory over No. 5 Northwestern Oklahoma State, the No. 4 East Central University women's basketball team advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2020-21 Great American Conference Championship Tournament.
The teams traded the opening shots for a 3-3 tie, with 6:32 on the clock. The Tigers (10-8, 9-8 GAC) then used a 10-2 run, over the next four minutes, to gain 13-5 lead The Rangers (6-14, 4-13 GAC) cut into the deficit in the remaining time and cut the disadvantage to two.
NWOSU kept fighting and added eight more points to the run to take a 20-14 lead, with 7:20 left on the clock .The Rangers kept pushing and increased the lead to 10, with 2:12 left on the clock.
ECU used a 5-0 run, in 30 seconds, to cut the Ranger lead to five. The Tigers kept the disadvantage between three and six for the next three minutes. NWOSU then pushed the advantage to 11, 48-37, with 1:20 left on the clock. ECU countered with a 7-0 run of their own to close out the quarter.
The Rangers opened the fourth by pushing ahead in the first two minutes, using a 5-1 run. The Tigers responded with a 5-0 run, to get within three. The game was tight for the next minute before ECU tied the game a 56, with three minutes left. The Tigers were the first to get on the scoreboard and used a 5-0 run in the next 45 seconds to gain a 61-56 advantage. The Rangers cut the deficit to three with a jump shot, but were forced to foul Izzy Cummins. She went 1-of-2 at the free-throw line, with five seconds remaining to secure the victory
The Tigers saw three players garner double-digit point totals - Hannah Ladd: 13 pts., 3 reb., 1 steal, .625 (5-of-8) FG, .600 (3-of-5) 3PT FG; Madison Rehl: 12 pts., 4 reb., 2 assists, 1 steal, 6-of-6 FT; Kendall Schulte: 10 pts, 1 reb., 2 blocks, .444 (4-of-9) FG; Izzy Cummins finished with 9 points, 2 rebounds and 1 steal.
NWOSU Recap