FORT SMITH, Ark. – University of Arkansas – Fort Smith Women’s Basketball tied the program record for made threes in a game as the Lions defeated Cameron, 79-74, Saturday at Gayle Kaundart Arena at the Stubblefield Center.
The Lions connected on 15-of-28 attempts from distance for a 53.6 percent clip. Guards Baylee Fincher and Riley Hayes each drained five triples while guard Morgan Browning was 4-for-4 from beyond the arc.
After combining for 70 points in Thursday’s win, the aforementioned trio combined for 49 against Cameron. Fincher led the way with 20 points, with 15 coming in the second half. Hayes had 15 points, all from the three-point line, and Browning added 14.
Forward Kayla Brundidge was one rebound shy of a double-double, tallying 12 points, nine boards and three assists.
UAFS never trailed in the game, with Brundidge scoring the first four points of the contest. Cameron quickly tied it up, but a three by Browning gave the Lions a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. UAFS led for a total of 38:42.
The Lions led by as many as 10 late in the first quarter and again early in the second before the Aggies cut the lead down to four at the break.
UAFS started the second half on an 8-0 run, and later had an 11-3 run that pushed the lead to 55-37. The lead grew to as many as 19 in the fourth before the Aggies made a final push.
The Lions led 65-49 with 8:12 left as the Aggies slowly chipped away at the deficit, getting within 78-74 with five seconds left before guard Zyniah Thomas iced the game with a free throw.
Thomas added five points and dished out a team-high five assists.
The 53.6 percent from beyond the arc and 51.8 percent from the floor were both season-highs for the Lions. UAFS had a season-low 13 turnovers and had a 20-11 edge in points off turnovers.
UAFS remains at home next week to face the top two teams in the Lone Star Conference, starting with UT Tyler on Thursday at 5:30 p.m.
