Postgame Interview with Coach Kirby
MAGNOLIA, Ark. – The Harding women's basketball team went on a 17-1 run in the last 5:17 to come from behind to defeat Southern Arkansas 83-74 on Monday in Great American Conference action. The game was scheduled to be played last Thursday but was postponed due to weather.
Senior guard Kaylee Wiedower scored a career-high 21 points, making a career-high seven 3-pointers. She is only the fourth Lady Bison to make seven or more 3-pointers in a game. The last player to do it was Makayla McNair who made eight in 2008. Sophomore forward Sydney Layrock scored 18 points, making 6-of-8 free throws. Sophomore guard Falan Miller had 15 points, making three 3-pointers. Freshman guard Chelsea Heidebrecht had a season-high 11 points and six rebounds. Sophomore guard Lundon Williams had a career-high nine rebounds to lead Harding on the glass.
Southern Arkansas was led by Tierra Tucker who had 22 points, making 8-of-14 from the field. Rosa Bryant scored 17 points and Shana Holmes scored 15 points. The Lady Muleriders went 1-of-12 from behind the 3-point line.
RECORDS
Harding improves to 10-5 overall and 8-3 in the GAC. Southern Arkansas falls to 11-4 overall and 7-4 in the GAC. The two teams were tied for second in the GAC standings heading into Monday. With the win, the Lady Bisons took over sole possession of second place in the standings. The Lady Muleriders are tied with Southwestern Oklahoma and Henderson State for third.
FIRST QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS
Harding trailed 22-18 after the first quarter. Sydney Layrock had eight points, making 4-of-5 free throws for Harding.
SECOND QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS
Southern Arkansas took a 44-36 lead into halftime after outscoring Harding 22-18 in the second quarter. Kaylee Wiedower made two of her 3-pointers in the quarter and Chelsea Heidebrecht had six points and four rebounds.
THIRD QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS
The Lady Muleriders led 62-51 heading to fourth quarter. Southern Arkansas scored 12 points of its 18 points in the paint. Kaylee Wiedower kept the Lady Bisons close, making 3-of-3 3-pointers.
FOURTH QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS
Down by seven, 73-66, with 5:17 left Harding scored three unanswered layups to tie the game 73-73 with 2:49 left. After three possession changes, Falan Miller hit a 3-pointer with 1:01 left to give Harding a 76-74 lead. The Lady Bisons got a steal and then A'ndrea Haney was fouled after making a layup to set up a 3-point play. Haney made her free throw to give Harding a 79-74 lead. After a Southern Arkansas missed 3-pointer, Falan Miller was fouled and knocked down both free throws to make it a three possession game, 81-74, with 22 seconds left.
TEAM STATS
Harding shot 38.6 percent from the field in the game, making 27-of-70 shots. The Lady Bisons made 11 3-pointers for the fourth time this season.
Harding made 18-of-23 free throws (78.3 percent) and tied a season-high with 48 rebounds. The Lady Bisons had as many against Southern Nazarene at home earlier this season.
Southern Arkansas shot 43.8 percent from the field. The Lady Muleriders shot 50 percent in each of the first three quarters but shot 21.4 percent in the fourth when Harding held Southern Arkansas to only three field goals.
UP NEXT
Harding will return home for a GAC matchup on Thursday when it plays hosts to Northwestern Oklahoma at 5:30 p.m., at the Rhodes-Reaves Field House. The game will mark the start of the second half of the GAC schedule.
