Clark, Moore Rally Lady Eagles to Victory

WALNUT RIDGE, Ark. (2/1/24) - Led by four players in double-figures the Williams Baptist women's basketball team defeated Cottey College 88-77 Thursday evening to keep pace in the race for the top in the American Midwest Conference championship race. 

Kaylee Clark paced four Lady Eagles in double-figures with a season-high 31 points, while Nijah Moore tied a season-high with 18 points and 11 rebounds off the bench. Charmen Taylor added 20 points, while Carmen Taylor had 10 points and six assists to round out the scoring. 

The game was tied at 74-74 with 3:48 remaining, but WBU went on a 14-0 run over the next two minutes for its largest lead of the night. Carmen Taylor started the run with back-to-back layup, and Moore emphatically put a stamp on it with a block and assist ahead to Clark that pushed the advantage to 82-74. Clark got a steal and went coast-to-coast on the next trip down and Taylor bookended the run with another layup to send the Southerland-Mabee crowd to its feet. 

For much of the night the Comets and Eagles battled back and forth. WBU led 26-19 after the first quarter, but Cottey rallied and outscored WBU in the second quarter to tie the score at 39-39 at halftime. 

In the second half both teams traded the lead several times, with the Comets building a seven point advantage with five minutes to go in the third quarter, but Moore was the steady force that kept the Eagles in the game until the offense could get going. Her presence in the paint and her dribble-drive ability kept the Comets defense at bay enough to allow Clark on the perimeter to get open looks and allow the Taylor twins to inside the arc. 

Williams scored 58 points in the paint and got 27 points off turnovers, while Cottey got just eight points off turnovers from the Eagles. 

The Eagles return to action Saturday, Feb. 3 against Columbia. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. at the SMC.