OKLAHOMA CITY – University of Arkansas – Fort Smith Women’s Basketball used a 12-0 first quarter run to erase its only deficit of the game and held off an Oklahoma Christian comeback for a 65-63 win Tuesday in its final game before the holiday break.
After the Eagles scored the first five points of the game, the Lions scored the next 12, with five coming from guard Baylee Fincher. Leading 12-9, the Lions went on another 10-0 run to lead 24-9, their largest lead of the game.
The Lions had to hold off the Eagles multiple times, first in the second quarter as OC cut the lead to five before the Lions led 37-29 at the break. UAFS shot 55.2 percent in the first half to 27.3 percent for OC.
OC cut the lead to one possession in the third quarter, but the Lions responded with a basket on the next possession each time.
UAFS grew the lead back to 10 in the opening minutes of the fourth, only to see the Eagles go on an 11-2 run to trim the lead to 58-57. OC then tied the game at 59-59 with 1:50 left before guard Morgan Browning made a layup to put the Lions back in front.
Guard Hannah Boyett then closed out the game with four consecutive free throws for her only points of the game.
Four Lions scored in double figures, led by forward Sinetra Jones with 12 points. Browning tallied 11 points while Fincher added 10 points. Forward Kayla Brundidge contributed 10 points and seven rebounds off the bench.
UAFS had a 22-19 edge in points off turnovers to counteract the 19-9 edge in second chance points for the Eagles, as OC corralled 23 offensive rebounds.
Next up for the Lions is a trip to Texas Woman’s on January 4.
