Lady Eagles Overcome Halftime Deficit to Vanquish Stars

WALNUT RIDGE, Ark. (1/8/26) – The Williams Baptist University women's basketball team overcame a seven-point halftime deficit to take down Stephens by the final score of 78-64 in American Midwest Conference action inside the Southerland-Mabee Center on Thursday night.

Cha'Myrean Ellis led the offensive charge with 26 points on the night.  Sara Crowe followed up with her first double-double of the season on 16 points and 10 rebounds, and Joi Montgomery piled on 13 points.

As a team, WBU went 24-of-54 (44.4 percent) from the floor, and Stephens matched on 26-of-58 (44.8 percent) shooting.  The Lady Eagles ran away with the game at the charity stripe, going 28-of-37 (75.7 percent) on free throws while holding Stephens to just 7 points from the line.

WBU won the rebound battle 35-34, and forced Stephens into 25 turnovers to just 15 committed by the Eagles.

Stephens jumped out to an early lead with an 11-4 run in the first five minutes.  The Stars were red-hot out of the gate, knocking down 10-of-11 shots from the field, but the Eagles stayed close behind as the Stars led 22-17 at the end of the first. 

Stephens cooled off in the second quarter, but the Eagles also struggled from the field as both teams shot a combined 9-for-29 in the second period.  Stephens extended its lead to 11 with 5:48 left in the half.  Williams cut into the lead, but went into the halftime break down 34-27.

The Eagles flipped the script in the third quarter by beginning the period on a 16-4 run to erase the Stars lead and take a 44-38.  Stephens tied the game back up with a triple, but WBU took the lead back on a jumper from Seanlajah Smith with 1:41 left in the quarter.  

Williams took control of the game in the fourth, beginning the final period on a 14-2 run.  Seanlajah Smith put the Eagles up by nine with a trey with 7:32 on the clock to force Stephens into a timeout.

The Lady Eagles kept swinging to put the game away out of the timeout. Two free throws from Sara Crowe gave WBU a 19-point lead with 1:53 to play that it would not relinquish to close out the win.

The victory moves Williams to 9-3 overall and 3-1 in AMC play.  The Lady Eagles will close out the three-game homestand on Saturday, Jan. 10 against UHSP.  Tipoff against the Eutectics is set for 1 p.m. inside the Southerland-Mabee Center.