RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas Tech shot 52.7 percent from the field as they went on to beat the Harding women's basketball team 85-73 on Thursday in Great American Conference action. The Lady Bisons fall to 19-6 overall and 15-4 in the GAC.

Harding and Arkansas Tech are both tied for first place in the GAC standings. The Lady Bisons host Ouachita Baptist on Saturday, while Arkansas Tech is at Arkansas-Monticello.

If both teams win or both teams lose on Saturday, Harding holds the tiebreaker over Arkansas Tech based on better results against the top teams in the conference. The Lady Bisons would receive the No. 1 seed at the GAC Tournament in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, on March 5-8.

Arkansas Tech made 29-of-55 shots from the field, including 8-of-14 (57.1 percent) from behind the 3-point line.

"The bottom line is that they made shots and we didn't," Head Coach Tim Kirby said. "I was really disappointed with the way we defended. We had numerous defensive breakdowns, and every time we did, they made the shots."

Harding led 15-14 in the opening five minutes of the game. Arkansas Tech then went on a 14-2 run to take a 28-17 lead with 8:49 left in the first half. The Lady Bisons never regained the lead in the game. Harding trailed 41-31 at the half.

The Lady Bisons clawed their way back as they pulled within eight (72-64) with 4:25 left in the game. The Golden Suns answered back with a layup and a 3-pointer by Anissa Pounds to take a 77-64 lead with 3:21 left. In the final 1:07, Arkansas Tech made 7-of-8 free throws to seal the win.

Harding was led by senior forward Arielle Saunders who scored 20 of her 22 points in the second half. She also grabbed a team-high six rebounds and picked up her 500th career field goal in the game. Freshman guard Lundon Williams made four 3-pointers and finished with 15 points. Freshman forward Sydney Layrock added 13.

Arkansas Tech (20-5, 15-4 GAC) was led by Pounds who had 25 points, including five 3-pointers. Fatima Adams had 20 points, making 8-of-13 from the field.

Arkansas Tech outrebounded Harding 41-29. It was only the sixth time this season the Lady Bisons have been outrebounded.