Box score

SEARCY – The Harding Lady Bisons led by as many as eight points, but could not hold off the No. 24 Arkansas Tech Golden Suns in the second half, losing 88-80 Thursday night at Rhodes Field House.

Harding (12-5, 2-2 Gulf South Conference) lost its 22 consecutive game to Arkansas Tech, and the Lady Bisons dropped to 1-42 all-time against the Golden Suns with the lone victory coming in a 62-53 victory in 1993. After losing its first two games, Arkansas Tech has won 15 consecutive games and moved into the NCAA II top 25 earlier this week.

The Lady Bisons took a 12-11 lead on a pair of free throws by junior Catherine McMenamy with 11:26 left in the first half, and Harding increased its lead for the rest of the half.

Sophomore Kailin May hit a three pointer with 16 seconds in the half to give the Lady Bisons a 41-33 lead, its largest of the game. Arkansas Tech scored once more before halftime on a pair of free throws by Amanda Grappe, and the Lady Bisons led 41-35 at halftime.

Harding held onto the lead for seven minutes into the second half, but Arkansas Tech kept closing the lead. Ruby Vaden scored a layup to tie the game 53-53 with 12:44 left. The Lady Bisons tied the game 56-56 a minute later on a three pointer by sophomore Kelsea Lyda. Lyda hit 6-of-8 three pointers and led the Lady Bisons with 19 points.

Grappe hit a three pointer on the next possession, and the Golden Suns led for the remainder of the game. Near the end, Arkansas Tech led by as many as 11 points.

Senior Kristen Donnell and junior Catherine McMenamy each scored 16 points for Harding. Freshman Lakyn Garrison finished with nine points and a game-high eight assists.

The Golden Suns' five starters scored at least 15 points each, and only two points were scored by Arkansas Tech's bench players. Krishna Baker led Arkansas Tech with 23 points, and Ashley Grappe added 17 points. Arkansas transfer Ruby Vaden scored 16 points for Arkansas Tech.

Harding will play Henderson State on Saturday in Arkadelphia, Ark., beginning at 3 p.m.