SEARCY, Ark. — No. 11 Harding overcame its lowest scoring output of the season with a suffocating defensive effort and a dominant third quarter to defeat Southern Nazarene 50-47 on Saturday afternoon on the Rhodes-Reaves Field House.
Kennedy Stout scored 18 factors and Kori Sanders dished out a season-high 11 assists because the Lady Bisons (18-3, 12-3 Great American Conference) swept the season collection with the Crimson Storm for the primary time for the reason that 2016-17 season.
The victory marked simply the third time since 2012 that Harding has received a sport whereas scoring 50 or fewer factors. The final such incidence was a 49-46 win over Southern Arkansas in 2016.
Trailing 31-24 at halftime, Harding exploded out of the break. Josie Williams sparked an 18-0 run to open the third quarter, scoring 10 of her 12 factors within the second half. The surge turned a seven-point deficit right into a 42-31 lead, with Sanders aiding on a number of baskets in the course of the run.
However, Southern Nazarene (7-12, 7-8) responded with a barrage of 3-pointers. Carley Gasaway, who led the Crimson Storm with 15 factors off the bench on 5-of-8 capturing from deep, hit three consecutive triples to shut the third quarter, reducing Harding’s result in 42-40.
The fourth quarter was a defensive grind, with neither group scoring for greater than 5 minutes. Stout lastly broke the drought with a three-point play on the 3:29 mark to provide Harding a 45-43 lead. After SNU tied the sport and briefly retook the lead, Williams tied it at 47-47 with a driving layup with 1:13 remaining.
Stout delivered the go-ahead basket on a left-handed layup with 36 seconds left. On the following possession, Harding’s protection pressured a troublesome turnaround jumper by Jillian Crawford that missed. Williams secured the rebound, and after a chaotic sequence within the closing seconds, hit a free throw with 0.8 seconds left to offer the ultimate margin.
Harding’s protection pressured 24 turnovers whereas committing solely 11. The Lady Bisons outscored Southern Nazarene 30-12 within the paint.
Sanders added seven rebounds and 4 steals to her 11 assists. Her help complete was essentially the most by a Harding participant since Williams had 12 towards Northwestern Oklahoma in 2022.
With the win, Harding improves to 18-11 all-time towards Southern Nazarene and stays excellent at house (13-0) towards the Crimson Storm in Searcy. The Lady Bisons keep their place atop the GAC standings pending the results of the Arkansas Tech vs. Oklahoma Baptist sport.
Harding returns to motion on Monday, Feb. 9, once they host Ouachita Baptist on the Rhodes-Reaves Field House. Tipoff is scheduled for five:30 p.m.