LUBBOCK, Texas – The #21 Lady Buffs of West Texas A&M used a big fourth quarter run and 51 combined points from Tiana Parker and Lexy Hightower as WT outlasted the seventh seeded Lions of Arkansas-Fort Smith, 81-66 at the Rip Griffin Center in Lubbock during the South Central Regional Quarterfinals.
 
THE BASICS:
 - Score: #21 West Texas A&M 81, Arkansas-Fort Smith 66
-  Records: WT (28-4) / UAFS (20-11)
 - Location: Lubbock, Texas
 - Venue: Rip Griffin Center
 - Series (Streak): WT Leads 4-0 (W4)
 
LEADING THE WAY (Statistical Leaders):
 - Points: Lexy Hightower (WT, 28 Points), Tiana Parker (WT, 23 Points)
 - Rebounds: Tiana Parker (WT, 8 Rebounds), Cece Wooten (WT, 6 Rebounds)
 - Assists: Lundon Williams (UAFS, 8 Assists), Sydney Walton (WT, 6 Assists), Megan Gamble (WT, 6 Assists)
 - Steals: Megan Gamble (WT, 3 Steals), Deleyah Harris (WT, 3 Steals), Daijah Brown (UAFS, 3 Steals)
 - Blocks: Tiana Parker (WT, 6 Blocks), Tayla Taylor (UAFS, 3 Blocks)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- West Texas A&M was led offensively by Lexy Hightower who went 12-of-20 from the floor including 3-of-5 from deep for a career-high 28 points followed by Tiana Parker who also set a new career-high with 23 points to go along with eight rebounds, six blocks and a steal.
- Micayla Haynes went 6-of-14 from the floor including 4-of-12 from behind the arc for a team-high 17 points followed by Ellie Lehne and Tayla Taylor with 14 points each to go along with two rebounds and three blocks for Taylor in the loss.
 
FIRST HALF:
- The Lady Buffs went 12-of-30 (40%) from the floor in the first half including 1-of-5 (20%) from deep and 7-of-8 (87.5%) from the free throw line with 17 rebounds (seven offensive, 10 defensive), six assists, 10 turnovers, two blocks and seven steals.
- Arkansas-Fort Smith finished the opening half going 13-of-25 (52%) from the field including 3-of-10 (30%) from behind the arc and 2-of-4 (50%) from the charity stripe with 12 rebounds (one offensive, 11 defensive), eight assists, 12 turnovers, three blocks and two steals.

SECOND HALF:
- WT finished the game going 26-of-53 (49.1%) from the floor including 3-of-8 (37.5%) from deep and 26-of-28 (92.9%) from the charity stripe with 35 rebounds (11 offensive, 24 defensive), 16 assists, 20 turnovers, six blocks and 11 steals in the win.
- The Lions went 26-of-58 (44.8%) from the field including 9-of-24 (37.5%) from behind the arc and 5-of-10 (50%) from the free throw line with 24 rebounds (eight offensive, 16 defensive), 17 assists, 19 turnovers, three blocks and no steals.
 
UP NEXT:
The Lady Buffs advance to tomorrow night's Regional Semifinal round against the sixth seeded Roadrunners of Metro State who topped RMAC rival and third seeded Colorado State-Pueblo, 78-70 earlier in the afternoon. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m. CT at the Rip Griffin Center between the Lady Buffs and MSU-Denver.