WBU Moves Into Three-Way Tie for First Place in AMC Standings

The Williams Baptist women's basketball team won its ninth straight game and moved into a three-way tie for first place in the American Midwest Conference after defeating Stephens 82-70 Thursday night at the Southerland-Mabee Center.

WBU (20-4, 13-2) is now tied with Stephens and Columbia atop the AMC standings with three regular season games remaining for each team. 

The win also gave the Lady Eagles their first 20-win season since 2015-16 and for the first time in the John Mayberry coaching era. The nine-game win streak is also tied for the longest under Coach Mayberry.

WBU led 70-65 with just over two minutes to go in the game after leading by double-digits just a minute prior. The momentum was shifting towards the Stars after the Lady Eagles had controlled much of the quarter, but Taylor Hooten knocked down arguably the biggest shot of the night when she banked in a 3-pointer off the glass to beat the shot clock and push the lead to 73-65.

Hooten finished with 18 points, five assists and four steals on the night. 

The made basket brought the SMC crowd and helped slow down the momentum the Stars had built up.

Stephens continued to keep the game close, however, and got within 75-70 with 1:09 to go, but WBU closed out the game on a 7-0 run that included a 3-pointer by Carmen Taylor and four points from Nijah Moore on back-to-back possessions.

Taylor finished the contest with 10 points, five steals and three assists.

"I was extremely proud of the fight our team showed tonight," Mayberry said. "We executed our game plan well and never backed down from a tough opponent. We still have work to do to get to where we want to be at the end of the season."

Kaylee Clark led Williams Baptist with 28 points on 10-of-16 shooting, including four 3-pointers. She was unstoppable in the third quarter when she poured in 18 points and helped WBU match Stephens step for step. 

WBU never trailed in the second half after taking a 30-28 lead into the locker room at halftime. Their lead grew to as many as 11 with 4:39 left in the third period, but the Stars refused to go away and fought back to get within 54-50 at the end of the period. 

WBU will try to extend its winning streak to 10 games on Saturday when it takes on the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy on senior day. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. in the SMC.