ADA, Okla. — Southern Nazarene recorded season-lows in field goal percentage and points as it shot just 29 percent from the field in a 54-50 loss to East Central.
 
The Crimson Storm (4-9, 3-7 GAC) came into tonight's game having won two of their previous three games while shooting above 40 percent from the field in both wins. SNU jumped out to a quick start against ECU as it held the Tigers to just two points through the first four minutes of the game. By the end of the first quarter, SNU led 17-5 behind eight points from Abby Boyd on 3-of-5 shooting. The Crimson Storm made 3-of-4 shots from beyond the arc in the first period, with Boyd hitting two alone.
 
Unfortunately, the Storm went cold the rest of the way. Southern Nazarene shot 3-of-18 from long range in the final three quarters, including 2-of-12 in the second half. The third quarter ended up being the difference in the game, as the Tigers outscored the Crimson Storm 17-6 in the third. SNU shot 20 percent from the field in the third quarter and went 0-of-4 from beyond the arc. ECU, on the other hand, shot 43.8 percent during the third and ended the quarter on an 8-2 run over the final five minutes of the period.
 
Southern Nazarene didn't go quietly, though, as it started the fourth quarter on a 5-0 run while holding the Tigers scoreless for the first two and a half minutes of the quarter. A jumper from Boyd with 3:44 left tied the game 45-45. However, East Central answered with a 6-0 run over the next three minutes. A 3-pointer from Boyd made it a 2-point game with 20 seconds left, but two ECU free throws and two missed shots from SNU ended the game.
 
Boyd ended the game being the only SNU player in double-digits scoring with 15 points on 6-of-19 shooting and 3-of-12 from 3-point range. The Crimson Storm held an 18-15 advantage in bench points, thanks to eight points from Adrienne Berry and six points from Ashley Almond. Turnovers ended up being costly for the Storm, as they committed 15 turnovers while the Tigers committed just nine. This led to an 11-5 advantage for ECU in points off turnovers.