Box Score
CONWAY, Ark. — Harding and Central Arkansas renewed its historic rivalry Monday night, and the game ended with the Lady Bisons' second road victory against an NCAA Division I school this season. Sophomore Stacey Owens scored a career-high 22 points and added 14 rebounds to help lead the Lady Bisons to a 80-71 victory over the UCA Sugar Bears in the first meeting between the two schools in any sport since UCA left the Gulf South Conference in 2006.
Harding's victory was its seventh in 39 all-time games against the Sugar Bears. The last time Harding (9-2) defeated UCA (2-7) at Farris Center was a 80-77 victory in November 1995. UCA had won the last eight meetings in Conway.
“Our effort is Number One on our list,” said Harding Coach Tim Kirby, now in his third season as Lady Bisons head coach. “How fast we're going, and how hard we're playing is always something we look at. We played hard for the whole 40 minutes tonight.”
The Lady Bisons trailed 9-0 to open the game, but Harding slowly chipped away at UCA's lead. Harding finally took the lead on a layup by senior Kristen Donnell with 5:24 to break a 26-26 tie.
UCA scored 12 consecutive points to end the first half and changed the 10-point deficit into a 38-36 halftime lead. The Lady Bisons did not score a field goal for the final four minutes of the half.
Owens grabbed an offensive rebound and scored a layup to put Harding ahead 50-49 with 12:29 remaining, and Harding continued to extend its lead for the remainder of the game.
Meagan Nickell led the Sugar Bears with 23 points, and Meaghen Kelleybrew added 15 points.
The Lady Bisons will play again Jan. 3 against North Alabama in Florence, Ala.
