Box Score
SEARCY – Harding sophomore Kinsey Tucker scored a game-high 28 points to lead five Lady Bisons in double figures as Harding defeated Lyon College 91-76, Thursday at the Rhodes Field House. It was the season opener for the Lady Bisons and the women’s basketball coaching debut for Harding head coach Tim Kirby.
Tucker set career highs in the game with a team-high nine rebounds and seven assists. She tied her career high with four steals. Tucker shot 7-of-14 from the field, including 3-of-4 from three-point range, and hit 11-of-12 free throws.
Harding, which won for the 12th time in the last 13 meetings against Lyon in Searcy, shot 53% from the field in the first half and led 48-38 at the break.
Fouls plagued both teams throughout the game. Five players fouled out in the second half, and the teams combined for 55 fouls.
Harding took advantage of their opportunities at the foul line. The Lady Bisons hit 28-of-31 free throws, including 16-of-17 in the second half. Harding’s 90.3% from the line marked only the eighth time in program history that the Lady Bisons shot better than 90% for a game.
Harding led 61-49 with 13:10 left in the game, but Lyon (2-3) went on an 8-0 run to cut the lead to 61-57 on two free throws by Orma Fisher with 10:12 remaining. The Lady Bisons then hit six straight free throws as part of an 8-2 run of their own and led 69-59 with 7:29 left. Harding built the lead up to 20 points on a Jasmine McClindon three-pointer with 1:44 on the clock.
The Lady Bisons outscored the Pipers 14-2 off turnovers in the second half.
McClindon came off the bench to score 16 points in her Harding debut. Chelsea Simpson scored 15 points and added eight rebounds. Also in double figures were Catherine McMenamy with 12 points and Jacque Fredendall with 10. Fredendall fouled out with more than 10 minutes left in the game but shot a perfect 4-of-4 from the field and 2-of-2 from the line.
Junior Laura Broadwater came off the bench and dished out a career-high eight assists without a turnover.
Harding’s 91 points were the most by the Lady Bisons in 43 all-time meetings with Lyon.
Lyon freshman Maribeth Waters led the Pipers with 21 points. Prescilla Mathias added 18 points.
Harding returns the Rhodes Field House on Saturday to meet Missouri-Rolla at 6 p.m.
