Box Score

SEARCY – The Harding women's basketball team fell to No. 4 Arkansas Tech 74-58 on Thursday in Gulf South Conference action on Senior Night. The Lady Bisons dropped to 17-8 overall and 8-5 in the GSC West Division. Harding honored three seniors after the game: Brittany Gottsponer, Bailey St. Clair and Danielle Reiher.

The Lady Bisons had already clinched a berth to the GSC Tournament on March 3-6 in Southaven, Miss. Ouachita Baptist, the third seed, defeated Henderson State also Thursday which sealed the fourth seed for Harding.

After trailing 33-31 at the halftime, freshman forward Kristen Celsor hit a jumper in the paint at the 18:09 mark to pull Harding within one, 38-37. Harding unfortunately went the next 10 minutes of the half without a field goal. During the drought, the Golden Suns went on a 17-6 run to take a 55-43 lead. The Lady Bisons tried to rally going on a 6-0 run in the next two minutes to pull within eight of Arkansas Tech. Jenny Vinning answered back for the Golden Suns scoring their next five points to put Arkansas Tech up by 13. The Golden Suns made their final three shots and capitalized on free throws to seal the victory.

Junior guard Sierra Rollins shot 7-of-15 from the field and made 5-of-8 free throws to score 19 points for the Lady Bisons. She also grabbed 16 rebounds, the most she has pulled down in a GSC game. Fellow junior Kallie Bartee, came off the bench for Harding and made 6-of-8 from the field including 3-of-4 from behind the 3-point line to finish with a career-high 15 points. Freshman forward Kristen Celsor scored 11 points.

The Golden Suns (23-2, 12-1 GSC) had three players end in double-figure scoring. Laura Beth Anderson made 8-of-11 from the field including 4-of-6 from behind the 3-point line to score 24 points for the Golden Suns. Vinning added 16 points and Jessica Weatherford scored 11 points. Harding held Arkansas Tech's leading scorer, Natalie Santos, to only six points in the game. Santos came in averaging 17.8 points per game.

The Golden Suns shot 45.8 percent from the field (27-of-59) and held the Lady Bisons to 37.7 percent (23-of-61).

Arkansas Tech forced Harding to 19 turnovers and turned them into 19 points.

The Golden Suns outrebounded the Lady Bisons 40-37.

Harding will wrap up the regular season on Saturday as they travel to Henderson State. Tip-off is at 2 p.m.