WEATHERFORD, Okla. – The Harding women's basketball team fell to Southwestern Oklahoma State 66-61 on Saturday in Great American Conference action. It's the first conference loss for the Lady Bisons as they fall to 9-4 overall and 2-1 in the GAC.

Harding led by seven with 8:18 remaining in the second half when senior guard Kallie Bartee hit a 3-pointer to give the Lady Bisons a 53-46 lead. HU fought off the Bulldogs the next four minutes but couldn't fend then off in the remaining minutes. Southwestern Oklahoma State held HU without a field goal down the stretch which allowed the Bulldogs to battle back and tie the game at 59 with 2:08 left. SWOSU took the lead on a Darcie Dick 3-pointer at the 1:33 mark. The Bulldogs hit 4-of-5 free throws to seal their third straight conference victory.

Harding struggled to find the bottom of the net. HU was 22-of-65 (33.8 percent) from the field and 6-of-21 from behind the 3-point line (28.6 percent).

Senior's Sierra Rollins and Kallie Bartee led HU as both scored 13 points. Bartee was 5-of-6 from the field, including three 3-pointers.

Harding out-rebounded Southwestern Oklahoma State 43-39. HU was led by Rollins who tied a season-high with 12. Freshman forward Arielle Saunders grabbed five offensive boards and finished with nine rebounds just short of her career high.

SWOSU (8-5, 3-1 GAC) had three players in double-figure scoring in the game. Darcie Dick led the Bulldogs with a game-high 16 points. Michelle Fisher had 12 and SaRaya Oyler had 10 points.

The Lady Bisons will play their final road game in their three-game road trip next Thursday, Jan. 19, as they travel to Arkadelphia, Ark., to face Ouachita Baptist. Tip-off is at 5:30 p.m.