CONWAY, Ark. – The Stephens Stars continued their winning streak, securing a commanding 76-45 road victory over Central Baptist College on Saturday afternoon. The win marked the Stars' seventh straight triumph as they wrapped up the regular season on a high note.
Chu Crockett delivered another stellar performance, finishing just shy of her 11th double-double of the season with 16 points and eight rebounds. LaiJanique Perry-Ellis added 16 points and six assists, while Taylor Norris contributed seven points, four steals and four assists.
Stephens (20-8, 17-5 AMC) wasted no time making an impact, with Syderah Farmer scoring the opening basket within the first minute. The Stars controlled the tempo early forcing turnovers. By the end of the first quarter, they led 16-7.
In the second quarter, Stephens extended its lead behind strong defensive pressure and key offensive plays. Perry-Ellis found Crockett cutting to the basket for an easy layup, further fueling the Stars' momentum. Norris pushed the lead to double digits for the Stars with a basket beyond the arc. By halftime, Stephens led 35-19.
Alonna Harvey-Williams knocked down a crucial three-pointer to start the second half, doubling the score of Central Baptist and further asserting the Stars' dominance. Moments later, Farmer intercepted a pass and took it coast-to-coast for a layup.
Their largest lead of the night came in the fourth quarter, extending to 35 points as they continued to stifle the Mustangs' offense. Paula Puzule connected on a deep three-pointer to cap off an explosive offensive run.
The Stars' defense was relentless, forcing 22 turnovers and holding the Mustangs to just 27.1% shooting from the field.
With the regular season now complete, Stephens enters the AMC postseason tournament presented by Tandem HR as the No. 4 seed. The tournament, hosted by top-seeded Williams Baptist, will take place in Walnut Ridge, Ark., beginning Friday, Feb. 28. The Stars will close out the night in game four, facing off against No. 5 seed Cottey College at 7:30 p.m. More information about the tournament can be found HERE.
