Horne's Big Second Half Powers Eagles to 97-82 Victory

WALNUT RIDGE, Ark. (11/5/24) – Senior Monica Horne put up 22 points in the second half to lift the Williams Baptist women's basketball team to a 97-82 win over Saint Mary (KS) inside the Southerland-Mabee Center on Tuesday night.

Horne finished with 28 points to lead all scorers on 12-of-21 shooting.  She also finished with the team lead in rebounds with 10 for her second double-double in as many games.  Carmen Taylor poured in 23 points of her own on 9-for-20 from the field and 3-for-9 from downtown, and her sister Charmen Taylor helped out with 17 on an 8-for-19 clip.

The Eagles shot 42.7 percent as a team on 38-89, as well as 5-for-18 from three-point range.  Saint Mary out-rebounded WBU 44-42, but WBU forced 34 Spire turnovers to its 13.  Williams also capitalized on second chance points with 22 in the contest.

The two squads battled in the first quarter until Saint Mary used a 9-4 run to take a 27-21 lead at the end of the quarter.

Carmen Taylor brought it within four with seven minutes to go in the second, but could not come all the way back.  USM mounted its largest lead of the night punctuated by a layup from Kate Harper that put the Spires up 11, and Saint Mary took a 50-43 lead into the locker room at halftime.

WBU came out of the locker room recharged and refocused.  With a steal from Horne and a Taylor Hooten triple the Eagles had tied the ballgame up at 50.  Williams took its first lead since the first minute of the game on a Charmen Taylor three-pointer.  

After a layup on the other end, a Horne jumper sparked an 11-2 run the Eagles rode through the end of the third to take a 71-61 lead at the quarter break.  WBU out-scored USM 28-11 in the third and forced 11 Spire turnovers.

WBU kept adding on in the fourth, taking its largest lead of the night at 17 with a layup from Hooten.  The Eagles finished the night hot, shooting 64.7 percent in the fourth quarter on an 11-for-17 clip powered by 12 points from Horne to give the team its first win of the young season.

The win moves the Eagles to 1-1 on the year.  Next, WBU will take on Hendrix for Homecoming on Saturday, Nov. 9.  Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. in the Southerland-Mabee Center on the campus of Williams Baptist University.