Eagles Drop Heartbreaker in Season Opener, 76-74

WALNUT RIDGE, Ark. (10/28/24) – The Williams Baptist University women's basketball team opened the 2024-25 campaign with a 76-74 loss to Langston University on Monday night in the Southerland-Mabee Center.

Senior Carmen Taylor led all scorers with 17 points on the night.  Monica Horne also pitched in 14 points with 13 rebounds for a double-double.  

As a team, WBU shot 43.9 percent from the field and 26.7 percent from three-point range.  The game featured nine ties and seven lead changes.

Both squads exchanged blows in the first quarter.  Nijah Moore scored from the stripe to get WBU out to a 15-11 lead in the first.  Langston was able to tie the game back up, and go up 24-21 at the end of the first quarter courtesy of a layup from Mikayla Woods.

A Kaylee Clark three ball tied the game at 24 early in the second quarter, and the Lions and Eagles matched each other step for step from there with each side scoring 16 points in the frame.  A free throw and a layup got the Lions back out to a three-point lead going into the halftime break.

Langston opened the third with an 8-0 run to take its largest lead of the night at 52-41.  WBU responded with a 10-0 run of its own powered by five points from Moore to jump back in front 51-50.  Langston went back on top with a three from Kashell Daughty and took a 60-56 lead into the fourth.

WBU found itself down 74-70 in the fourth quarter with less than 15 seconds remaining.  Unfazed, Taylor Hooten sank two free throws to cut the lead to two and the Eagles defense forced a turnover.  With three seconds left, Nijah Moore made her way to the hoop and drained the layup to tie the game at 74.  With the seconds ticking away, Langston found the go-ahead layup to escape with the 76-74 win.

The Lady Eagles will return to the court on Tuesday, Nov. 5 to take on Saint Mary at home.  Tip-off is scheduled for 5 p.m. in the Southerland-Mabee Center on the campus of Williams Baptist University.