Clarksville, Ark.- In an intense matchup at Mabee Gymnasium, the University of the Ozarks Eagles (6-3) secured a hard-fought 61-55 victory over Rhodes College (2-6) on Saturday afternoon. The game was marked by a milestone moment for senior forward Naomi Smith, who surpassed 1,000 career points.  

Smith delivered a standout performance, recording a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds, solidifying her presence on both ends of the floor. Her five clutch free throws in the second half helped the Eagles pull away in a tightly contested game.  

Abby Beene also shined for the Eagles, leading all scorers with 21 points, including a near-perfect 9-of-10 from the free-throw line. Lili Garcia chipped in with 7 points and 4 rebounds, while the team as a whole dominated the boards, out-rebounding Rhodes 47-36.  

The game remained close through three quarters, with Rhodes holding a one-point lead after the first half (37-29). However, Ozarks surged ahead in the final quarter, fueled by stellar defense and composure at the charity stripe, shooting 87.5% from the line in the fourth.  

Rhodes was led by Avery Marsh and AC Milam, each scoring 16 points, but a cold fourth quarter where the Lynx shot just 13.3% from the field ultimately sealed their fate.  

"This was a big team win, but tonight is all about Naomi," said Head Coach Shauna Watson. "Reaching 1,000 points is an incredible achievement, and she earned every single one of them with her hard work and determination."  

With this victory, the Eagles improve to 6-3 and look ahead to their next challenge hosting Hendrix on December 30th. Congratulations to Naomi Smith on her historic achievement and the entire team on another thrilling win!