Box Score
SEARCY—The Harding Lady Bisons avoided a late-game collapse to defeat the Ouachita Baptist Lady Tigers, 61-53 at the Rhodes Field House on Saturday night.
The Lady Bisons improved to 16-7 overall and remain fourth in the Gulf South Conference West standings with a 6-4 record. Delta State tops the West with a 9-1 conference mark, followed by Arkansas Tech (8-2) and Southern Arkansas (7-3). Ouachita Baptist fell to 12-11 on the season and 3-7 in GSC play.
Harding extended its lead to 17 points on a layup from Catherine McMenamy with 10 minutes remaining in the second half before Ouachita Baptist began to rally. The Lady Tigers cruised on an 11-0 run to cut Harding's lead to 55-51 with less than five minutes left.
The Lady Bisons regained momentum on a 6-0 run capped by a pair of free throws from Kinsey Tucker, as Harding stretched its lead to 61-51 with less than 30 seconds left.
Harding led 31-25 at halftime. The Lady Bisons improved to 14-1 when leading after the first half.
McMenamy led Harding with 12 points, and Jasmine McClindon added 11 points. Kelsea Lyda scored a three-pointer to move into Harding's top 10 list for three point goals in a season with 46.
Harding outrebounded the Lady Tigers 43-33. Jacque Fredendall led the Lady Bisons with 12 rebounds, marking her seventh game with 10 or more rebounds this season. Stacy Owens had eight rebounds.
Harding defeated Ouachita Baptist, 70-69 in Arkadelphia, Ark., on Jan. 13. The Lady Bisons have won the last three meetings and four of the last five meetings.
Haley Griffin led the Lady Tigers with 22 points, and Lindsey Dooley scored 11 points. Harding has won 15 games this season when allowing less than 70 points.
The Lady Bisons will host Arkansas Tech on Feb. 15, beginning at 5:30 p.m.
