Oklahoma City, OK - College of the Ozarks closed with a dominant fourth-quarter surge, using late free throws from Logan Jones and a series of key defensive stops to defeat Science & Arts of Oklahoma 90–81 in the opening round of the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament Thursday in Oklahoma City.

The Lady Cats trailed 72–69 entering the fourth quarter after surrendering a 34-point third quarter to the Drovers, but they flipped the game with a 21–9 advantage over the final 10 minutes. Jones sealed it at the line, knocking down two free throws with 30 seconds remaining to push the lead to 90–81 after College of the Ozarks had repeatedly turned back Science & Arts Oklahoma’s late comeback attempts.

Jones led all scorers with 32 points on 8-of-18 shooting, including 4-of-8 from 3-point range, and went 12-of-13 at the foul line while adding six rebounds and four assists in 40 minutes. Her scoring anchored a Lady Cats offense that shot 50.8% from the field (30-of-59) and matched the Drovers from beyond the arc with eight 3-pointers, despite committing 22 turnovers against USAO’s pressure.

College of the Ozarks controlled the early stages, building a 27–19 lead after one quarter when Jones buried a 3-pointer with six seconds left. The Lady Cats maintained that cushion into halftime, as Allyssa Joyner connected from deep with 28 seconds remaining in the second quarter to send them into the break ahead 47–38. The Lady Cats also owned the glass, finishing with a 41–32 rebounding edge, including 27 defensive boards that limited second-chance points.

Science & Arts responded after halftime with its best stretch of the game, exploding for 34 points in the third quarter to swing the momentum. Behind the scoring of Ti'Alone Banks, Jordyn Rollins, Nyapar Mathot and Evangelia Davlakou, the Drovers erased the deficit and grabbed a 72–69 lead when Rollins drilled a 3-pointer in the final seconds of the third. USAO’s defense also produced 17 steals on the night, turning Lady Cats miscues into transition opportunities during that run.

The fourth quarter belonged to College of the Ozarks. The Lady Cats tightened defensively, holding Science & Arts to just nine points over the final frame after conceding 34 in the third, and used their size and discipline to protect the rim and close possessions. Even after Mathot scored with 47 seconds left to cut the margin to 88–81, the Lady Cats stayed composed, securing rebounds and closing it out at the stripe, where they finished 22-of-28.

Keara Mattingley added 16 points, Savannah Ketchum shipped in 12 and Ashlen Garrett contributed 11 for the Lady Cats to provide a solid team effort in the win. The Lady Cats will take on 8th seed Texas Wesleyan on Friday evening at 5:30 p.m. in Oklahoma City, OK.