The UMHB women jumped out to a 32-22 lead with 5:07 remaining in the first half before the Lady Eagles closed the half with a 16-2 run to take a 38-34 edge at the break. Ozarks would push the lead to 60-47 with 7:30 remaining in the game before UMHB mounted a comeback of its own. The Lady Crusaders used a 13-1 run to pull to within 61-60 win 3:11 left to play. Christian Tomlinson then hit a lay-up with 2:23 to go to put UMHB on top 62-61. Ozarks retook the lead on Erica Eneks’ three-pointer with 43 seconds remaining to go up 64-63. The two teams traded turnovers before Shannon Barnes hit two free throws to give UMHB a 65-64 lead with 20 seconds remaining. Tomlinson grabbed a key rebound off an Ozarks miss and was fouled with seven seconds left. She missed both free throws, but Barnes grabbed the rebound and went to the line with five seconds to go. She drilled both free throws to give UMHB a 67-64 lead and Lindsey Nietert’s desperation mid-court three missed badly as the buzzer sounded.
Barnes led the Lady Cru with 20 points and Julie Amabile chipped in 12 points and five assists for UMHB. Tomlinson also had a big game with 11 points, eight rebounds and five blocked shots. Jeanne Randall hit 5-8 three-pointers and scored a team-high 17 points for the Lady Eagles, but she played just three minutes in the second half. Eneks and Mandi Carter added 12 points each for the Lady Eagles. UMHB turned the ball over 27 times, but forced 25 Ozarks turnovers. The Lady Cru shot just 39 per cent from the field and 25 per cent from three-point range. Ozarks hit 11-27 from beyond the arc, but shot just 37 per cent from the field.
The UMHB women will continue their home stand with a pair of games against nationally ranked opponents next week. The Lady Cru will host McMurry University for a 5:30 PM tip-off on Thursday before welcoming Hardin-Simmons University to the Mayborn Campus Center for a 1:00 PM start next Saturday. Those games also mark the opening of ASC West Division play for the UMHB women.