Lady Eagles Hold off UHSP; Win 10th Straight on Senior Day

WALNUT RIDGE, Ark. (2/15/24) - The Williams Baptist women's basketball team won its 10th consecutive game and maintained its three-way tie for first-place atop the American Midwest Conference standings with an 85-76 victory over the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy Saturday afternoon at the Southerland-Mabee Center. 

The Lady Eagles improved to 21-4 and 14-2 in the league with the win, while also improving their record to 13-1 at home this year. The 10-game winnings streak is now also the longest in the John Mayberry coaching era and is the longest of any team in the AMC this year.

WBU trailed 38-35 at halftime after struggling to knock down shots from the field in the opening 20 minutes. UHSP led by as many at 13 with 9:45 to go in the first half, before the Lady Eagles were able to close the gap by getting to the free throw line. 

An 8-0 in the third quarter erased UHSP's lead and put Williams back in front at 49-48. Both sides traded the lead over the next 3-minutes until Kaylee Clark knocked down a 3-pointer to put the home side ahead 55-54 with 57 seconds remaining in the period. The Lady Eagles would not trail again after that basket. 

Clark finished with a season-high 33 points and seven rebounds and also collected four steals. She matched the Eutectics' Grace Beyer, who had 38 points of her own, step for step throughout the afternoon and helped WBU seal the victory with a 14 point effort in the fourth quarter. 

Three other Lady Eagles' also finished in double-figures, led by Carmen Taylor's 17 point effort, and Nijah Moore's 14 points off the bench. Charmen Taylor also added 11 points and 14 rebounds for her sixth double-double of the year. 

UHSP refused to go away without a fight, however, and closed the gap to 75-74 with 2:38 left to go in the game but Clark was a force that would not be stopped.

The junior from Batesville, Ark., went a 7-0 run to put WBU ahead 82-74 and squash any moment the Eutectics had built up. 

Williams Baptist was able to do most of its damage from the paint where it outscored UHSP 40-22 thanks to its dribble-drive attack. The Lady Eagles also held a huge in points off turnovers, outscoring UHSP 35-17 in the category.

Before the game Williams honored student assistant Ethan Stanley and forward Kiara Lovings in a senior day ceremony.

Next up for Williams will be a road swing to finish out the regular season starting with Missouri Baptist on Thursday, Feb. 22. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m. from The Carl and Deloris Petty Sports and Recreation Complex in St. Louis, Mo.