SE Tops Bulldogs in GAC Tourney Opener

BARTLESVILLE, Okla.  – Emily Williams and Rachel Wallace combined for 53 points and Southeastern topped Southwestern Oklahoma State 101-92 in the first round of the Great American Conference Tournament on Thursday afternoon in Bartlesville, Okla.
 
The win lifts the Savage Storm to 20-9 on the season and advances them to the semifinals for a matchup with the winner between Arkansas Tech and Henderson State.
 
The contest was the highest-scoring matchup in GAC tournament history, surpassing the previous best of 87-83.
 
Williams paced all scorers with 33 in the game, missing the tournament single-game scoring record by just three points.  She finished 10-of-17 from the field and 3-of-4 from long range with a 10-of-12 effort at the free throw line.
 
Wallace added a career-high 20 points on 6-of-9 shooting with an 8-of-9 effort at the charity stripe.
 
Olivia Potter added 12 points with four threes and in the process set the single season GAC record for three pointers made with 84 on the year.
 
Taylor Richards added eight points and dished out three assists, while Williams and Madison Thames each added three helpers.
 
Williams completed a double-double by hauling in 11 rebounds as the Storm held a 43-to-41 edge on the glass.
 
Wallace and Williams bolstered the SE in the first half with the former scoring early and finishing with 12 points in the half, while the latter picked up the paced midway through and drained a pair of threes en route to 14 first half points.
 
The Bulldogs opened with a pair of threes for an early 6-0 lead and held the advantage until a pair of Demi Koelzer free throws tied the game at 21-21 with 10:12 to go and just over a minute later the Storm took its first lead on a Taylor Richards layup at 23-21.
 
The teams would claw to another tie at 35-35 with 3:38 to go in the half, but SE would finish on a 17-2 run to take a 52-37 lead at intermission.
 
The Bulldogs rallied early in the second half, opening the half on a 20-3 run to cut the Storm lead to 57-55 at the 14:11 mark.
 
Williams would answer with a bucket and after SWOSU cut it to two points again, Thames would connect on a layup and draw the foul.  After converting the three-point play the Storm lead was back to 62-57.
 
That kicked off a 14-2 run to open up a 75-59 lead, but the Bulldogs would close the gap back to single digits with 2:20 to play.
 
They would close to within five points, but the Storm would hold off the rally by hitting 8-of-8 at the free throw line in the final minute to preserve the 101-92 win.