Alva Review-Courier -

ADA – The East Central University women's basketball team broke a three-game losing streak with a 73-69 victory over Arkansas-Monticello in Great American Conference action at the Kerr Activities Center.

The Tigers (7-11, 6-8 GAC) were led by junior Lakin Preisner, who tallied her third career double-double on 13 points, 13 rebounds, five assists and a steal. Senior Devon Branch paced the team with 23 points, while sophomore Madison Nickens added 16 points.

The game started close, with the Cotton Blossoms (7-11, 6-8 GAC) holding a slight 4-3 lead after the first two minutes. The teams continued to battle through the first five minutes, when ECU went on a 13-0 run over the next four minutes to take a 22-8 advantage. UAM scored the final five points of the stanza for a 22-13 score.

The Cotton Blossoms continued their run into the second quarter, finishing with a 13-0 mark that cut the lead to 22-21, with 7:30 minutes left in the half. The Tigers held the lead through the half, with the advantage being around two possessions, before taking a 33-28 lead into the locker room.

The second half started close, before UAM used an 8-0 run to take its first lead since the first quarter (38-37), with four minutes left. However, ECU countered with a 16-4 run in the final four minutes of the quarter to take a 53-42 advantage.

The Cotton Blossoms used a few runs in the first eight minutes of the final stanza to cut the disadvantage to three (65-62). Free throws in the final two minutes of the game accounted for all the remaining points, with each team earning eight trips to the line and sinking all eight. The lead that the Tigers held heading into the time frame allowed them to hold on for the 73-69 victory.

ECU will finish up the weekend at home, hosting Southern Arkansas, Saturday, Feb. 3 at 3 p.m. in the Kerr Activities Center.