SEARCY –  Harding women's basketball moved into sole possession of first place in the Great American Conference with a 79-44 victory over East Central on Thursday at Rhodes Field House.With the win, HU sealed a spot in the GAC Tournament.

Harding (15-5, 8-2) won its sixth straight and leads Southwestern Oklahoma State by one-half game. The Lady Bisons host the Lady Bulldogs on Saturday with the conference lead on the line.

Harding completely controlled the interior against East Central (6-15, 4-7). The Lady Bisons had 63 rebounds, the second-most in program history and most since Harding had 64 rebounds against Arkansas Baptist in 1984.

Harding made five 3-pointers in the first half and shot 8-of-10 from the free throw line to lead 43-21 at the break.

Four Harding players had 10 or more points. Freshman Montana Lewis led the team with 20 points and a season-high 14 rebounds. Sophomore Kristen Celsor had 18 points and nine rebounds, freshman Tabitha Haney had 14 points, and freshman Arielle Saunders had 10 points, 14 rebounds and a team-high six assists. Senior Cherilyn McMenamy added 10 rebounds.

East Central, who had its two-game winning streak snapped, did not have a player in double figures. Dilan Webster and Erin Walling had eight points each. The Lady Tigers shot only 26.1 percent from the field and went to the foul line only six times.

Harding and Southwestern Oklahoma State start at 2 p.m. on Saturday at Rhodes Field House.