Alva Review-Courier -

ADA – The East Central University women's basketball team dropped a 57-78 decision to Southwestern Oklahoma State at the Kerr Activities Center in Great American Conference action.

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The Tigers (2-9, 1-6 GAC) were led by senior Whitney Stotler, who tallied 17 points, nine rebounds, three assists and two steals. Junior Devon Branch added 16 points and two boards.

The opening of the game was a tight battle, with no team leading by more than four. However, the Bulldogs (9-4, 5-2 GAC) started a push late in the first quarter, going on a 5-0 run to push the lead to seven. ECU didn't back down and used a 5-0 run of their own in the final two minutes to cut the deficit to two (17-19) at the end of the stanza.

While SWOSU pushed the lead back out to six in the opening half of the second quarter, the Tigers countered to tie the game at 27, with 3:14 left to play in the half. The teams traded points the rest of the half and went into the intermission knotted at 33.

The start of the third quarter was where the Bulldogs took control for good, going on an 11-0 run in the first four minutes. SWOSU kept up the pressure and built the lead up to as many as 14 in the quarter and took a 46-59 lead into the break.

The Bulldogs kept up the pressure through the fourth quarter and had the lead out to as many as 21, before claiming the 57-78 victory.

While the Tigers pulled close to even in three-point shots and free throws, SWOSU earned the win by making 10 more shots from the field (20-30) and earning a 39-55 rebounding advantage.

ECU will now return to the road for the next three games, starting at Oklahoma Baptist, Saturday, Jan. 14 at 1 p.m. in Shawnee, Okla.