Five Ouachita Baptist Lady Tigers scored 10 or more points during their 75-67 win over Southern Arkansas Thursday night.
"I thought we got off to a really slow start and had too many turnovers early in the game," said Lady Muleriders head coach Julio Pacheco. "It will cost you when you turn the ball over this deep into the season and especially in conference play.
The Lady Muleriders slipped to 3-12 overall and 2-7 in the GAC, while OBU improved to 9-6 on the season and 5-4 in league action.
"We played uphill the entire time and that's tough against a team like OBU. We are limited with our numbers and having to substitute girls in and out the entire time. We were kept on our heels most of the night," said the coach.
After about two minutes of action, SAU enjoyed a quick five-point lead, but managed only a one-point advantage when the first-quarter buzzer sounded.
The Lady Tigers took a 16-14 lead early in the second period and never trailed again. They managed to build an eight-point advantage, 29-21, at half-time.
The Lady Muleriders trailed by 12 early in the third quarter before beginning to fight back.
The lead was down to six twice during the period, but OBU regrouped and led by 12, 57-45, after three quarters.
The Lady Mulerider scored the first seven points of the final quarter and cut the lead to 57-52 with seven minutes to play.
They got to within three, 70-67 during the final 30 seconds and couldn't get any closer.
"I'm proud of the way we came back in the second half," said Pacheco. "We will learn and bounce back from this one."
Sue Key led the team in scoring with 17 points, while Kimberly Crown followed with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
Olivia McWilliams added 11 points, while Ramiah Henry and Erin Brinkley contributed nine apiece.
Morgan Miller had 15 for the Lady Tigers.
Maija Gertsone, Chasidee Owens, Kori Bullard and Alivia Huell all finished with 10 points each.
"I thought we lived up to our game plan, but the problem was giving up 18 points off turnovers," said Pacheco.
SAU turned the ball over 21 times during the contest.
Both teams shot 41 percent from the field and OBU made only two more 3-pointers than the Lady Muleriders.
OBU was better at the free-throw line, shooting 71 percent (17-of-24) to SAU's 47 percent (7-of-15).