Eagles Win Fifth Straight with 87-50 Triumph over Trojans

WALNUT RIDGE, Ark. (1/13/24) - Carmen Taylor, Kaylee Clark and Charmen Taylor all scored in double-figures to lead the Williams Baptist University women's basketball team to its fifth straight victory with a 87-50 decision over Hannibal-LaGrange Saturday afternoon at the Southerland-Mabee Center. 

Carmen Taylor led all scores with 25 points and added six rebounds, while Clark posted 22 points and six assists. Charmen Taylor finished the afternoon with 14 points, four rebounds and four assists. 

With the win, the Eagles improved to 11-3 overall and 4-1 in the American Midwest Conference. Hannibal-LaGrange dropped to 4-8 and  0-4 in the league. 

WBU shot 41.3 percent (31-of-75) from the field and made 34.5 percent (10-of-29) of attempts from beyond the arc. The Trojans were held to just 34 percent (17-of-50) and committed 41 turnovers in the contest. 

The Eagles never trailed in the contest and outscored Hannibal-LaGrange 15-4 in the opening five minutes. Carmen Taylor scored 13 points in the first quarter and knocked down 3-of-5 of her 3-point attempts.

As a team Williams shot 62.5 percent (10-of-16) from the field and held a 27-14 lead at the end of the first quarter. Defensively the Eagles forced Hannibal-LaGrange into 11 turnovers in the frame.

Clark caught fire in the second quarter and helped push the advantage to 50-25 at the break. The junior from Batesville, Ark., and scored nine points in the period.

WBU continued to score at an efficient clip in the second half, outsourcing their opponent 18-6 in the third quarter and 21-17 in the fourth quarter. 

Williams will travel to Columbia, Mo., to take on Stephens Thursday, Jan. 18. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.