Alva Review-Courier -

JOPLIN, Mo. – Tied 62-62 entering the fourth quarter, SWOSU Women's Basketball outscored No. 11 Emporia State 26-14 over the game's final 10 minutes to claim its first ever win over the Lady Hornets in the NCAA Division II era by a final score of 88-76.

SWOSU outscored the No. 11 team in the nation in three out of the four quarters in the contest, with the exception of a minus 10-point margin in the third quarter that allowed the Lady Hornets to tie the contest back up entering the fourth quarter.

With Hailey Tucker battling foul trouble for most of the afternoon, SWOSU saw its other four starters rally to the cause with double digit scoring figures from the other four players in the starting lineup. Tyra Aska was the Bulldogs leading scorer with 20 points on the night, with nine of those coming in the fourth quarter.

SWOSU opened the final 10 minute session on a 7-0 run to build their lead back up and followed the run with an Aska sequence of two made foul shots, a steal and an and-one the other way with a converted free throw for the three-point play.

Leading 74-67 after the burst, three point shots from Tucker and Hayden Priddy made the Dawg lead nine and was eventually pushed to double digits with 1:38 to go after a Savannah Gray deep ball connected. The double digit margin held firm and SWOSU led by 12 when the final horn sounded.

Taylor Hedrick was SWOSU's second leading scorer, finishing with 15 points while Hayden Priddy totaled 13 on a perfect 3-for-3 from beyond the arc and five assists. Bethany Franks, making her first collegiate start, posted 12 points and grabbed six rebounds. Aska put in work on the defensive end too, coming away with six steals.

Coming into Friday, SWOSU was 0-5 against Emporia State dating back to 2002. The win gives Head Coach Kelsi Musick her first victory over the Lady Hornets in five chances.

The Lady Bulldogs (1-0) will wrap up play at the GAC/MIAA Crossover in Joplin tomorrow at 3 pm against Missouri Southern.