Point Lookout, MO - College of the Ozarks closed out a tight game with a dominant final stretch, pulling away late for a 73-64 win over Bethel (Ind.) on Saturday evening at Keeter Gym. After seeing a double-digit lead vanish and the game tied heading into the fourth quarter, the Bobcats relied on timely scoring from Logan Jones and steady free-throw shooting to secure the nine-point home victory.

Jones finished with a game-high 25 points, going 10-for-10 at the free-throw line and knocking down three 3-pointers in 39 minutes. Her late-game composure at the stripe, including two free throws with 23 seconds remaining to push the margin to 71-64, helped College of the Ozarks withstand Bethel’s rallies. The Bobcats went 29-for-36 at the line as a team, an 80.6% clip that proved decisive in a game where neither side shot well from the field.

College of the Ozarks set the tone early, taking a 15-11 lead after the first quarter and building that advantage to 34-26 by halftime. Jones connected on an early 3-pointer to make it 5-2 and added another from deep in the second quarter to stretch the lead to 21-11. Ashlen Garrett, who finished with 22 points and seven rebounds, beat the first-quarter horn with a jumper to give the Bobcats early momentum. Defensively, College of the Ozarks forced 18 Bethel turnovers while committing only five, turning ball pressure into extra possessions throughout the night.

Bethel responded after the break, using a 25-point third quarter to erase the deficit. Trailing 37-30 after yet another Jones 3-pointer early in the third, the Pilots chipped away behind balanced scoring and persistent work on the glass, where they held a 40-34 rebounding edge. The quarter ended in dramatic fashion when Olivia Nickerson banked in a 3-pointer at the buzzer to tie the game 51-51, capping Bethel’s surge and setting up a tense fourth quarter.

The Pilots briefly seized control early in the final period as Mariah Claywell knocked down a jumper at the 9:36 mark to put Bethel in front 53-51, its first lead of the second half. Claywell finished with 14 points and nine rebounds, while teammate Jazmyn Smith added 16 points and seven boards. Isabel Scales contributed nine points and nine rebounds, including five offensive rebounds, helping Bethel generate second-chance opportunities despite shooting 37.3% from the field.

College of the Ozarks answered with poise. A key sequence came with just over four minutes remaining, when Savannah Ketchum cut to the basket for a layup off an assist from Abigail McBride to put the Bobcats ahead 61-59. From there, the hosts clamped down defensively, limiting Bethel to 13 points in the quarter and converting on the other end, with Jones and Garrett repeatedly drawing contact and capitalizing at the line. The Bobcats finished with 10 steals and four blocks, turning Bethel’s mistakes into critical late-game points.

With the win, the College of the Ozarks Lady Bobcats once again demonstrated their ability to respond to adversity, protecting their home court despite Bethel’s third-quarter surge and strong presence on the boards. The Lady Bobcats—back-to-back National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) National Champions—showed the poise and championship pedigree that has defined the program.