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February 25, 2001
Tiger Basketball Splits Last Home Games
An aggressive defense and the court leadership of Jennifer Edwards were the differences in a 55-48 win by the Ouachita Baptist University Lady Tigers over the Christian Brothers University Lady Buccaneers in action Saturday afternoon in Bill Vining Arena in the Roy and Christine Sturgis Physical Education Center. The OBU Tigers were not as fortunate and fell victim in the early game to the CBU Buccaneers from Memphis by a tally of 78-64.
The games were the finale of the regular home season for both OBU clubs. The women, though, move to NCAA Division II Gulf South Conference post season play on Thursday afternoon in Tupelo, MS. The loss by the Tigers ended their season.
Garry Crowder's Lady Tigers concluded the regular season one game better in the win category than last year at this point with a record of 19-7, 11-5 and tied for third place with the University of Sugar Bears (19-7, 11-5) from Conway. Delta State University from Cleveland, MS captured the GSC West Division title with a 27-2, 14-2 mark. The Arkansas Tech University Golden Suns from Russellville were second with a 20-6, 13-3 record.
The Lady Tigers' record is the best that a Ouachita women's basketball team has accomplished since beginning intercollegiate competition in 1976. The women's team of 1970-71 playing under the banner of the Tigerettes and in AAU competition did amass a 25-7 record.
The Tigers (5-21, 3-13) suffered through their worst season record since 1988-89 (5-20) and placed eighth in the nine team GSC West Division. The division was won by UA-Monticello with a record of 19-7, 12-4. Christian Brothers (11-15, 5-11) finished in seventh place.
In Saturday's women's game, the hard charging Edwards was eight of 12 from the field and three of eight from the line for 19 points. She led the team in rebounds with seven and had one steal. Complimenting her was the athletic finesse of sophomore Crystal Allen who ended the afternoon with 13 points and five rebounds. The Lady Bucs (10-16, 6-10) were led by Crystal Howard with 11 points.
An aggressive Lady Tiger club prepared for post season play by limiting CBU to shooting only 29 percent (14 of 49) from the field. Ouachita was 19 of 50 for 38 percent. OBU was beaten on the boards, 39-37. From the arc, CBU was three of 17, while Christian Brothers hit only two of nine. At the line, CBU connected on 17 of 24, while the Lady Tigers were true on 15 of 25.
The Lady Tigers led at intermission, 27-23.
Mike Reynolds saw three of his seniors play Saturday in their last game in the purple and gold uniforms of OBU. Senior guards T.J. Jones of Conway and Michael Medlin of Cabot, along with forward Mauricio Watson of Panama City, Panama were the celebants for Senior Day ceremonies following the game.
High point honors in Saturday's game for the Tigers went to Watson and Jarris Kentle who scored 15 each. Jones added 13. Forward Tim Lane had 10 rebounds.
CBU's Brandon Corbin was a nemesis to the Tigers all afternoon. He was eight of 13 from the field, one of two from the arc, and eight of 10 from the line for 15 points. Corbin was also the pacesetter in rebounds for both clubs with 12 boards. Other double digit scorers for the Bucs included Adam Heitzman with 14, Edmund Nabutete with 12, and Felix Jones with 10.
Christian Brothers held a 36-27 lead at halftime, with neither team burning-up the nets. CBU ended the game by hitting 28 of 73 from the field for 38 percent, while Ouachita hit 23 of 62 for 37 percent. CBU outscored OBU from the three-point distance by scoring seven of 27, while Ouachita went five of 17. At the free throw line, the Bucs hit 15 of 21, while Ouachita went 13 of 20. The taller Bucs outgunned OBU in the paint in collecting 50 rebounds to Ouachita's 41. The Tigers committed 19 turnovers to CBU's 13.
-by Mac Sisson
Ouachita Baptist University• Lady Tigers
