The Oglethorpe women's basketball team recovered from a 12-point deficit in the fourth quarter against a Hendrix team that came into the game 13-3 overall and 4-1 in Southern Athletic Association play, but the Stormy Petrels could get no closer than three points over the final couple of minutes in a 73-69 loss Sunday afternoon in Conway, Arkansas. The defeat dropped the Petrels to 7-9 overall and 2-4 in league play. 

Down 60-48 with 6:44 remaining in the contest, the Petrels came storming back to put themselves in the game late. They went on a 15-6 run over the next 4:40 to shrink the Warrior lead to a single possession, 66-63, with 1:33 remaining. The two teams traded baskets and the Petrels were still behind by three with 49 seconds left. However, points on consecutive trips gave Hendrix a 71-65 lead with 19 seconds to go. From there, the home side was able to put the game away at the free throw line.

For the game, freshman forward Lauren Ransom led the way for the Petrels, scoring 16 points and grabbing 11 rebounds while recording 3 blocks. Senior guard Emily Buck contributed 15 points on 6 of 10 from the field and 2 of 6 from 3-point range. Freshman guard Bailey Charles posted 12 points of her own while grabbing 6 boards and going 3 of 4 from the free throw line.

The Petrels trailed by just four points late in the third quarter, 45-41, but the Warriors went on a big run to push their lead out to its largest of the game. They responded by outscoring Oglethorpe4-0 over the remaining 39 seconds of the third quarter. Then, they continued to push their run in the fourth quarter. In all, they embarked on a 15-7 run to push their advantage to 60-48 with 6:44 remaining in the contest.

The Warriors began the third period leading by just seven and the Petrels quickly sliced that to five, 35-30. However, Hendrix was able to push that up to an 11-point edge with three consecutive buckets. The Petrels responded, though, embarking on an 11-4 run over the next four minutes to cut the Hendrix advantage down to four.

The two sides traded baskets the majority of the opening half of play. However, with the score tied 24-24 and with 4:06 remaining in the second quarter, the Warriors pushed out on an 8-1 run to end the half. Combined with their run to start the second half, the spurt totaled 17-6 over almost eight minutes of play.

For the game, the Petrels shot 40 percent from the field and held Hendrix to 39 percent. The Petrels also sank 32 percent of their 3-point shots and held the Warriors to 24 percent. The home side was able to make a difference at the foul line, however. Hendrix sank 65 percent (22 of 34) of their free throws while the Petrels converted 54 percent (14 of 26). The Petrels won the rebounding battle 45-40 but Hendrix totaled 18 assists and forced 15 Oglethorpe turnovers. 

"I thought we gave a great defensive effort today," said Head Coach Alex Richey. "Hendrix is a very good team, perhaps the best in our league, so all credit goes to them today. At the same time, I thought we got better today as a team and had great intensity throughout."

The Petrels will return home from Arkansas overnight and will then get ready for another weekend of SAA action, this time from Dorough Field House. They'll welcome Sewanee to the Blacktop at 6 p.m. Friday before hosting Centre at 1 p.m. Sunday on National Girls and Women in Sports Day.