SEARCY – The Harding women's basketball team defeated Southeastern Oklahoma State 83-69 on Saturday in Great American Conference action. The Lady Bisons will be the third seed in the GAC Tournament and will play Southeastern Oklahoma State the sixth seed on Thursday at 12 p.m. For ticketing information for the GAC Tournament go to www.greatamericanconference.com

For the second time this season, five different Harding players had over 10 points in the game. Sophomore guard Shana Holmes led HU with 18 points, hitting three 3-pointers. Junior forward Kristen Celsor, sophomore guard Montana Lewis and junior guard Deshelle Isaac-Boyce each had 13 points. Junior guard Lauren Crenshaw had 12 points. Harding had five players score in double-figures against Southern Nazarene earlier this season.

Harding (18-8, 14-6 GAC) went on a 7-0 run to close the first half as they led 35-28 at halftime. The Lady Bisons were 3-of-17 from behind the 3-point line in the first half.

Sophomore guard Cheree Kiser hit a 3-pointer with 7:34 left to play to pull Southeastern Oklahoma State with within one, 59-58. Harding then went on a 15-4 run to take a 12 points lead with 2:37 left. The Savage Storm cut the HU lead to nine with 2:06 left on a 3-pointer by junior guard Natalie Ruud. The Lady Bisons quickly answered back with a 3-pointer by Crenshaw. Harding made 6-of-7 free throws to close out the game.  

Kiser led SOSU (10-16, 8-12 GAC) with 15 points. Senior guard Bailey Welch had 14 points, hitting 9-of-10 free throws. Ruud made four 3-pointers and finished with 14 points.

The Lady Bisons had seven blocks in the game. Celsor led HU with a career-high five and sophomore forward Arielle Saunders had two.

Harding made 30-of-65 field goals (46.2 percent) and held the Savage Storm to shooting 35.7 percent (20-of-56). SOSU made 10 3-pointers.

The Lady Bisons outrebounded Southeastern Oklahoma State 43-31. Harding had 12 offensive rebounds and turned them into 15 points. SOSU only grabbed six offensive rebounds as HU held them scoreless on second chance points.

Harding dominated the paint 40-20. The Lady Bisons got the ball down low in the second half as they scored 26 points in the paint.  

After the game, Harding honored senior guard Katie Dunn for her contribution to the Lady Bison basketball program.