Clarksville, Ark.-Taylor Farmer, Kindra Davis and Ashley Hipps combined for 57 points to lead the Lady Eagles to a 66-61 win over Howard Payne University Saturday in American Southwest Conference action.
    
Farmer paced Ozarks (8-13, 7-11 ASC) with 23 points, while Davis and Hipps had 19 and 15 points, respectively. The trio also combined for 24 rebounds.
    
"I thought all three of those girls played well today," said head coach Carl Ramsey, who was honored prior to the game for his 35 years of coaching. "We had others step up and play solid defense on their two really good guards. Hipps is displaying a great all-around game and getting better every time we play. We didn't shoot the ball very well, but our effort was good. We just kept fighting and were able to pick up the win."  
    
The win put the Lady Eagles in a tie for seventh-place in the ASC standings. Only the top eight teams qualify for post-season play. Additionally, it was Ozarks fourth win in the last five games.
    
"Our intensity and confidence have went up lately," he said. "We are playing better as a team right now." 
    
Ozarks owned a narrow 31-30 lead at intermission behind 14 points from Farmer. The Lady Eagles shot only 30 percent from the field, but hit three three-pointers and 6-of-7 from the free throw line in the first half.
    
In the second half, Howard Payne (12-9, 11-7 ASC) held a 49-45 advantage with 9:00 remaining in the game, but Ozarks eventually moved in front 57-56 at the 3:38 mark. Leading 62-60 with under one minute to play, Hipps nailed a clutch jump shot to give Ozarks a four point cushion.    

Ozarks will host Mary Hardin-Baylor February 13 and Concordia University Texas February 15.