THE BASICS

Clarksville, Ark. – The University of the Ozarks women's basketball team secured a thrilling 63-62 victory over Concordia Texas in a back-and-forth battle that featured 12 lead changes, eight ties and a buzzer-beater from Dalena Fisher. The Eagles  found itself trailing 17-13 after the first quarter but remained resilient, cutting the deficit to three by halftime (32-29). The Eagles made their move in the third quarter, outscoring Concordia 20-16, before holding on in a tense fourth quarter to secure the one-point win. Trailing 62-61, the Eagles had the final possession with just seconds left. Naomi Smith received the ball on the in bounds play, drove and dished underneath to an open Fisher for an easy basket and game-winner as time expired. Both teams battled hard, with Ozarks winning the rebounding battle 43-39 and capitalizing on second-chance opportunities with 19 points. The Eagles also used their defense to generate 17 points off turnovers, proving crucial in the tight contest. Despite shooting only 34.9% from the field, Ozarks excelled from three-point range, hitting 40% (8-of-20) compared to Concordia's 27.3% (6-of-22). With the game hanging in the balance in the closing minutes, Ozarks managed to keep Concordia scoreless in the final possessions, securing a hard-fought victory in front of their home crowd.

Key Performances

Lili Garcia led the way for Ozarks with a stellar shooting performance, scoring 19 points on 7-of-10 shooting, including 5-of-7 from beyond the arc. Abby Beene contributed 18 points and grabbed eight rebounds, while Naomi Smith played a crucial role with 13 points, nine rebounds, and five assists.

UP NEXT Next

The Eagles will look to carry this momentum forward as they prepare for their next matchup against University of St. Thomas, February 14 at 5:30 p.m.