GAME DETAILS
No. 2G Texas Lutheran University 63 (21-4), No .3B University of the Ozarks 55 (13-13)
Friday, Feb. 28, 2025
Irving, Texas

THE BASICS
Irving, Texas – The University of the Ozarks women's basketball team lost a heart-breaking 63-55 overtime game against Texas Lutheran University Friday in the quarterfinals of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Championship Tournament in Texas. The two teams went into overtime after being tied, 52-52, at the end of four quarters. Texas Lutheran scored first on a shot and then controlled the rest of overtime. The Bulldogs outscored the Eagles 11-3 in overtime. The Eagles played a strong first quarter hitting 63 percent from the field to lead 17-13 behind a pair of three-pointers from Kelsey Ground and Lili Garcia. The Eagles continued to play well in the second quarter outscoring the Bulldogs 15-11 to lead 32-24 at halftime as they were looking to be pull off another post-season upset. The Eagles would hit three three-pointers in the second quarter. The Eagles would cool off from the field in the third quarter allowing Texas Lutheran to make a run. But the Eagles would still lead 38-37 heading into the fourth quarter. Ground would drill a three-pointer with 5:31 remaining to put the Eagles in front 47-43. The Bulldogs eventually tied the score, 49-49, with three minutes left and the two teams went back-and-forth over the next two minutes of regulation. Garcia hit a pair of free throws with 30 seconds to make it 52-50 in favor of the Eagles. However, Texas Lutheran drew a foul with 25 seconds left and then made two free throws to even the score and send it to overtime.

TOP EAGLES
Scoring – (16) Naomi Smith
Rebounding – (21) Naomi Smith
Assists – (5) Jaslynn Marsh

TURNING POINT
Texas Lutheran University, who were receiving votes in the two top-25 polls, outscored the Eagles 11-3 in overtime to claim the victory.

TIP-INS
The Eagles made the post-season for the second straight season under head coach Shauna Watson. Naomi Smith became just the third player in SCAC tournament history to record 20 or more rebounds in a single game. Her 21 rebounds tie her with Millsaps' Janice Okeke, who collected 21 on February 24, 2012. The 21 rebounds are just one shy of the single-game tournament record of 22 set last year by Colorado College's Zoe Tomlinson.