DURANT, Okla. – Five Lady Bisons players finished in double-figure scoring as the 22nd-ranked Harding women's basketball team defeated Southeastern Oklahoma 76-67 in Great American Conference action on Saturday. The Lady Bisons improved to 11-2 overall and 7-0 in the GAC.
It was Harding's seventh straight win that dates back to Dec. 12.
Harding was led by senior forward Arielle Saunders who captured her ninth double-double of the season with 18 points and season-high 15 rebounds. Saunders, who is the Harding all-time leader in offensive rebounds (290) in the modern era, grabbed 12 defensive rebounds to become the Lady Bisons all-time defensive rebounds leader with 608. She also had four blocks in the game.
"Arielle is playing really well," Harding Head Coach Tim Kirby said. "She has such a calm demeanor. In a game like this she could get in foul trouble really easily, and she didn't. I'm proud of her. This is not a easy game for a post player, and she did a great job."
Freshman forward Sydney Layrock came off the bench and finished with 15 rebounds. She also had season-high nine rebounds. Sophomore guard A'ndrea Haney made 8-of-10 free throws to add 14 points. Freshman guard Lundon Williams made two 3-pointers and had 12 points and senior guard Montana Lewis had 12 points. It was Lewis' fourth straight game scoring in double-figures.
It was the second time this season Harding has had five players score in double-figures. The Lady Bisons accomplished the feat against Southwestern Oklahoma to open GAC play. Harding won the game 105-69.
Southeastern Oklahoma (12-3, 5-2 GAC) was led by junior guard Shelby Hill who hit seven 3-pointers and finished with 21 points. Sophomore guard Oliva Potter had 11 points and a team-high five rebounds.
With 1:18 left in the first half, Lundon Williams made a jumper to give Harding a 38-32 lead. Southeastern Oklahoma made three straight layups to tie the game at 38 with 12 seconds left. The Lady Bisons drove down the floor in time for Williams to make a 3-pointer with three seconds left to give Harding a 41-38 lead at the half.
"Lundon has a knack for hitting three's at the buzzer," Kirby said. "That was a big shot to finish the half."
Harding continued to build on its lead in the second half as they led by as much as 16 after a 3-pointer by Layrock gave the Lady Bisons a 48-64 lead. Harding held the Savage Storm to shooting 25.0 percent from the field in the second half. The Lady Bisons forced six turnovers in the half and turned them all into points (12).
Harding dominated the paint scoring 38 of its points to 20 points by Southeastern Oklahoma.
The Lady Bisons will be back in action on Thursday as they play their first home game since Dec. 18. Harding will face East Central at 5:30 p.m., at the Rhodes Field House.
