BETHANY, Okla. —Southern Nazarene kept its conference tournament hopes alive with a crucial 3-2 win over East Central Saturday afternoon.
 
The Tigers (5-6-4, 2-3-4 GAC) came into the match in fourth place, and the Crimson Storm (4-11-0, 2-7-0 GAC) needed a win to keep a Great American Conference Championships berth in their sights. Both teams had over 20 shots, as ECU finished with 23, three more than SNU. The Crimson Storm had 11 shots on goal, compared to the eight fired from the Tigers.
 
Kelsi Bussert scored her second goal of the season to kick things off in the ninth minute to give the Storm an early lead. A little later, Hannah Lawrence scored arguably her best goal of the season, as her header found the back of the net to make it 2-0 in favor of SNU.
 
After trailing at half 2-0, ECU kicked it up a notch and fired 15 shots in the second half. After Meagan Chase was fouled inside the goalie box in the 65^th minute, Hannah Yoder scored her first goal of the year on the ensuing PK. The Tigers didn't go down without a fight however, as Lizette Carreon scored on a free kick in the 76^th minute. ECU's Jordyn Gibbs notched another goal in the 86^th minute to make it 3-2, but the Storm's defense held strong the final four minutes.
 
Chase had three of her four shot attempts end up on goal for the Storm, as Bussert had two on frame, and Sky Glass had one. Ashlynn Pritchett recorded six saves for the Storm.