FORT SMITH – UAFS knocked Newman from the ranks of the Heartland Conference unbeatens on Saturday afternoon as the Lady Lions held off the Jets 80-74 in overtime at the Stubblefield Center.
The Lady Lions (10-6) won their fourth game in a row and remained in second place in the conference with the Jets (11-6, 3-1), who suffered their first conference loss, and the St. Edward’s Hilltoppers (8-7, 2-1). The No. 5 Lubbock Christian Lady Chaps (14-1, 3-0) remain atop the conference after beating the St. Mary’s Lady Rattlers 76-42 on Saturday.
UAFS never trailed in the game and led by as many as 13 points in the third quarter, but Newman rallied and tied the game at 67-67 on a jumper by Haley Albers with 24 seconds left in regulation.
The Lady Lions weren’t in the bonus yet, so the Jets fouled three consecutive times, committing the last of the trio of fouls with 10 seconds left. UAFS got an open look at a game-winning shot, but junior guard London Williams’ jumper was off the mark and rebounded by Newman’s Dede Johnson as time expired.
UAFS regained the lead on the opening possession of overtime when senior forward Tayla Taylor scored on a layup, and the Lady Lions never relinquished the lead, building as much as a six-point lead in the extra five-minute period.
Taylor, who is the reigning Conference Player of the Week, made her case again for the weekly honor with her eighth double-double of the season. She led the Lady Lions with 23 points – she missed only three shots (11 of 14) – and 11 rebounds.
Junior forward Sarah Elkins had 11 points, while junior guard Daijah Brown had 10 points to round out the Lady Lions’ double-figure scoring. Williams dished out a career-high 12 assists, tying the school record for assists in a game set by Adel Morris against Ecclesia College on Feb. 24, 2011.
Despite Taylor’s 11 rebounds, the Lady Lions were still out-rebounded by the Jest by seven rebounds (43-36) and gave up 12 offensive rebounds that led to 13 second-chance points for the Jets.
Newman shot 46 percent from the field (31 of 68) – it was 4-of-14 shooting from 3-point range – and shot 91 percent from the free-throw line (10 of 11). Forward Hannah Alexander led the Jets with 29 points, while guard Bria DeGrate had 11 and Johnson had 10.
Forward Mel George led the Jets with 13 rebounds.
WOMEN
UAFS 80, NEWMAN 76 (OT)
Newman 12 23 13 19 9 — 76
UAFS 18 24 14 11 13 — 80
Newman (11-6, 3-1): Alexander 29, DeGrate 11, Johnson 10, Roberts 8, Albers 6, M. George 4, A. George 4, Olerich 2, Ortiz 2.
UAFS (10-6, 3-1): Taylor 23, Elkins 11, D. Brown 10, Lehne 9, Williams 8, Gulley 7, Green 6, Haynes 4, Oliver 2
