Box Score

SEARCY—Freshman Stacey Owens scored a career-high 15 points to lead the Harding Lady Bisons to a 71-58 victory over the Christian Brothers Lady Buccaneers at the Rhodes Field House on Saturday night.

The Lady Bisons improved to 18-9 overall and 8-6 in the Gulf South Conference. Harding will play in its first GSC Tournament as the fourth seed from the GSC West. The Lady Bisons will face West Florida on Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. at the DeSoto Civic Center in Southaven, Miss.

Christian Brothers fell to 10-17 overall and 2-12 in the GSC.

The game was tied six times and neither team led by more than six points in the first half. Junior Kinsey Tucker hit a jumper to give the Lady Bisons the lead for good at 26-24 with five minutes left in the first half. Tucker finished with 11 first half points, and Harding led 38-34 at halftime.

The Lady Bisons continued to lead in the second half. Erin Nigh hit a jumper for Christian Brothers to narrow the lead to 45-44 with 15 minutes left. Harding then went on a 6-0 run capped by a pair of free throws from Owens as the Lady Bisons took a 51-44 lead.

Tucker scored 13 points, and freshman Kaitlin May made 7-of-8 free throw attempts and finished with 12 points.

Kelli Gross scored 10 points to lead Christian Brothers.