ARKADELPHIA, Ark. — Big-time players make big-time plays and Southern Nazarene's Cassandra Awatt proved that Tuesday evening as she hit the go-ahead three just under 11 seconds remaining in the game to give the Storm the 57-56 victory over Ouachita Baptist.
Originally set to be played before the holiday break, the game's postponement had the Storm (9-7, 4-5 GAC) especially excited as they have been waiting for this matchup for almost two years. Putting their No. 1 ranked scoring defense to the test, SNU held the Tigers (6-8, 4-6 GAC) to just 56 total points for the contest.
In typical Storm fashion, SNU broke out early, creating a 10-1 lead midway through the first. The Tigers fought to close the gap, going on a 3-0 run in the final minutes and the Storm maintained a 13-10 lead after the first period.
A Ouachita three-ball would tie the contest at 15 each, two minutes into the second. Offensive struggles struck both squads, but SNU's Lauryn Reither ended the stall with a dagger from beyond the arc putting the storm up four (22-18) with just under five minutes to go. Awatt's jumper would make it 24-18 and the Storm brought the defensive heat in the final possession, forcing Ouachita to a five-second violation heading into the half. The Tigers would only score eight that quarter, one of their lowest scoring periods this season.
Abby Niehues opened the second half with a quick lay-in and the Storm extended their lead to eight. Fouls controlled the rest of the quarter as free throws were exchanged on both ends, keeping the Storm's lead to single digits. Bullying her way down the middle, Awatt secured the old-fashioned three-point play to put the Storm up 34-28 at the halfway point.
The whistle blew the remaining three minutes, giving the Storm and the Tigers chances at the charity stripe. Ouachita sunk the last free throw of the quarter and the Storm held a 42-34 lead going into the fourth quarter.
SNU kept their distance for most of the quarter, but a Ouachita three would give the Tigers their first lead of the contest at 52-50 with three minutes to play. The Storm stayed within two the next two minutes, but Ouachita's offensive leader Aspen Thorton sunk in a 10-footer to put the Tiger's up by four (56-52) with a minute remaining.
Reither found an open lane off of a Storm push and dropped one in with just under 40 seconds left on the clock, putting the Storm back within two (54-56).
After a missed breakaway layup by the Tigers, Awatt grabbed the board and sent it up to Soap on the right wing. Ouachita struggled to defend in transition and Soap dished it to Awatt and she sunk in a triple right at the 10-second marker. Ouachita couldn't get their final jumper to go and Emily Monaghan tipped the shot to the ground, sending SNU to snap a two-game skid with their 57-56 win over the Tigers.
Awatt danced her way to a career-high 14 rebounds to go along with 23 points and two steals, her third double-double of the season.
Niehues added another double-double to her bag, putting up 12 points, 12 rebounds, and two blocks.
Reither added eight points off the bench to go along with three rebounds, and two steals.
Monaghan tallied seven points, three rebounds, and four steals on the night.
SNU faces a quick turnaround as they head to Monticello, Arkansas to match up with the Blossoms of Arkansas-Monticello to continue their Arkansas series. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 20th.
