Box Score (PDF)

BATESVILLE, Ark. – Heading into the final quarter, the No. 20 (NAIA Division I) Lyon College women's basketball team and No. 6 (NAIA Division II) College of the Ozarks were all knotted up at 60-60. Lyon outscored CofO, 31-23, in the final period as the Scots picked up a 91-83 over the Lady Cats on Tuesday night inside a packed Becknell Gymnasium.

With the win, the Scots improved their record to 2-1 to start the season and handed the Lady Cats their first loss of the season as they fell to 5-1.

The two teams appeared evenly matched as neither team led by more than three points over the first six minutes of the game. Back-to-back baskets by Madison Riley and Ali Tucker changed that trend however as the Scots took a 15-10 lead with 3:52 left in the first quarter. The Lady Cats worked their way back into the game as Cassidy Johnson accounted for eight straight points for College of the Ozarks as the score became tied at 18-18. After a three-pointer by Tucker, her first of five in the game, CofO trimmed the deficit to 21-20 after a bucket by Abby Oliver.

The score remained close in the opening minutes of the second quarter until the Lady Cats began to pull away after back-to-back three-pointers by Madisen Brethower. The Scots answered back with a pair of threes by Tucker to take a 35-32 advantage. With the score tied at 42-42, Oliver gave the Lady Cats a 45-42 lead at the half with a three-pointer just before the buzzer from the wing.

College of the Ozarks used an 8-0 run midway through the third quarter to take its largest lead of the game at 56-49 but responded with a 6-0 run of their own after a pair of buckets from Liz Henderson and another basket from Tucker to pull within one at 56-55 with 3:14 remaining in the quarter. Henderson knotted the score at 58-58 on the Scots' next possession with a three before the two teams exchanged baskets to end the quarter with the score tied at 60-60.

After big three-pointer by Randi Thompson from the wing put the Scots up, 71-69, with 4:51 left to play, Lyon controlled the momentum the rest of the way. The Scots would use a 15-5 run to push their lead to eight points over the next three minutes before a pair of free throws gave Lyon its largest lead of the game at 91-80. Despite a late three-pointer by the Lady Cats, the Scots dribbled out the final seconds and earned the big win in their home opener.

Three Scots finished with over 20 points in the game, led by Henderson's game-high 24. Riley recorded her first double-double of the season as she netted 22 points to go along with 10 rebounds. Tucker chipped in 21 points as she finished 5-for-8 from beyond the arc. Johnson led the Lady Cats with a team-high 22 points in the game.

The Scots will open up American Midwest Conference play this Saturday at Hannibal-LaGrange at 1 p.m.

Women's Basketball Contact: Matt Jagodzinski | 870-307-7516 | matthew.jagodzinski@lyon.edu
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