ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Henderson State shot 52 percent from the field to defeat No. 16 Harding 91-85 on Thursday in Great American Conference action. The loss snapped a 20 game conference winning streak.
Despite the loss, Harding will stay in first place in the GAC standings after Arkansas Tech, who was in second place with only one loss, fell at Southern Arkansas 57-52 on Thursday.
Harding (15-3, 11-1 GAC) trailed by 19 with 6:25 left. The Lady Bisons battled back and went on a 10-0 run that was capped by a three by Lundon Williams to pull Harding within three, 88-85. Vanessa Pieper made one of two free throws to make a two possession game for Henderson State with 28 seconds remaining. Harding missed a layup in its next possession and then Dulincia Keener made two free throws to seal the victory for the Reddies.
"We just dug ourselves too big a hole," Harding head coach Tim Kirby said. "We were so out of sorts around the basket and just missed too many layups."
Henderson State (7-11, 5-7 GAC) had six players score in double figures. Keener led the Reddies with 20 points, hitting 6-of-8 from the field and 8-of-11 from the free throw line.
The Reddies made 11 3-pointers in the game. Victoria Stewart and Haleigh Henson both made four from behind the arc.
It was the most points Harding has given up since Nov. 19, 2011 when Harding fell to Seattle Pacific 89-66.
Freshman guard Lundon Williams came off the bench to lead Harding as she tied a season-high with 19 points, and tied a season-high with five 3-pointers. Freshman forward Sydney Layrock also came off the bench and made 7-of-14 buckets to finish with 18 points. Senior guard Montana Lewis made two 3-pointers to add 17 points and sophomore guard A'ndrea Haney had 12 points.
Harding had a 45-44 lead but a foul and two free throws gave Henderson State a 46-45 advantage at the half. The Lady Bisons had 12 turnovers in the first half as the Reddies turned them into 18 points.
Harding hit a season-high 12 3-pointers in the game as eight of them came in the first half and two came in the final 1:23 of the game.
The Lady Bisons will be back in action on Saturday as they host Southern Arkansas at 5:30 p.m., at the Rhodes Field House in Searcy, Ark.
