Taylor’s 33-Point Night Lifts Eagles to Eighth Straight Win

WALNUT RIDGE, Ark. (2/13/24) - Powered by a 33-point effort from junior Carmen Taylor, the Williams Baptist women's basketball team won its eighth straight game with a 98-85 victory over Central Baptist College Tuesday night at the Southerland-Mabee Center. 

The victory moves the Lady Eagles (19-4, 12-2) into a tie for second place in the American Midwest Conference standings with Columbia and just one game behind league leaders Stephens, with a match up set with the Stars Thursday, Feb. 15 at the SMC. 

Taylor paced five Williams players in double-figures and helped her squad withstand a first half run from the Mustangs. Williams led by four at 28-24 after the first quarter and held their four point lead at the break at 42-38. 

The Arlington, Tenn., native had 12 points in the opening half and then added 11 in the third quarter as the Lady Eagles extended their lead after briefly trailing in the opening minutes of the third period.

CBC held its largest lead at 52-49 with 7:35 to go in the period, but Williams Baptist responde with a 15-0 run to go up 64-52. Kaylee Clark, who finished with 21 points, made a pair of 3-pointers in the run and Taylor Hooten and Taylor added additional support to help extend the lead. Hooten also finished in double-figures with 10 points. 

Williams continued to maintain its double-digit lead throughout much of the game and got added support from Charmen Taylor's 12 points and Nijah Moore's 10 points to help prevent Central Baptist from getting close for a comeback. 

Defensively the Lady Eagles forced the Mustangs into 19 turnovers and scored 34 points off those turnovers, while limiting themselves to just 13 miscues that resulted in just six points for CBC. 

Williams also knocked down a blistering 48.1 percent (13-of-27) of its 3-point attempts and shot 49.3 percent (34-of-69) from the field as a team. 

Williams will look to match its largest win streak in the coach John Mayberry era on Thursday against Stephens and also win 20 games for the first time since the 2017-18 season. 

Tipoff for Thursday's game against Stephens is set for 5:30 p.m.