Box Score BARTLESVILLE, Okla. – Southwestern Oklahoma State a big scoring run on either side of halftime to pull away from Harding and win the Great American Conference Tournament championship 69-58 on Sunday at Bruin Fieldhouse.

Southwestern Oklahoma will not advance to the NCAA Tournament despite the conference tournament championship because the GAC, in its first year as an NCAA Division II conference, does not receive an automatic bid for its tournament champion.

Harding (18-11), playing in its first-ever conference tournament championship game, led early. A layup by Kristen Celsor at 14:18 put the Lady Bisons ahead 14-5.

Southwestern Oklahoma (20-9) answered with a 16-3 run over the next six minutes, taking the lead during the run on a MaRiah Oyler 3-pointer.

The Lady Bulldogs closed the first half on a 12-5 run, led 36-26 at halftime, and scored the first six points of the second half to extend their lead to 16.

Harding battled back to within 10 points only once in the second half when Kallie Bartee's free throws cut the Southwestern Oklahoma advantage to nine.

Freshman Arielle Saunders led Harding with 19 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and five blocked shots. She was named to the GAC All-Tournament Team along with senior Cherilyn McMenamy. Sophomore Kristen Celsor scored 11 points and had six rebounds and three blocked shots.

Darcie Dick, the tournament most valuable player, led Southwestern Oklahoma with 21 points and seven assists.