SEARCY – The Harding women's basketball team made six straight free throws to come-from-behind to defeat Northwestern Oklahoma 80-77 in Great American Conference action on Thursday.
Sophomore forward Sydney Layrock made 10-of-12 free throws and went on to score 27 points to lead the Lady Bisons. It was the most points she has scored in a GAC game. Junior guard A'ndrea Haney made 7-of-9 free throws and finished with 13 points. Sophomore guard Falan Miller captured her first career double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Sophomore guard Lundon Williams scored 11 points making 4-of-4 free throws.
Junior forward Kamera Bozeman led Northwestern Oklahoma with 28 points, making 11-of-16 from the field. She also had eight blocks and nine rebounds. Sophomore guard Jaylan Robinson made two 3-pointers and finished with 14 points.
RECORDS
Harding improves to 11-5 overall and 9-3 in the GAC. Northwestern Oklahoma falls to 1-16 overall and 0-12 in the GAC. The Lady Bisons stay in sole possession of second place in the GAC standings. Arkansas Tech sits in first place with a perfect 12-0 GAC record.
FIRST QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS
Harding led 18-14 after the first quarter. Both teams made seven field goals.
SECOND QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS
The Lady Bisons took a 40-23 lead into the halftime locker room after outscoring the Rangers 22-9 in the second quarter. Harding made nine free throws in the quarter and Falan Miller had seven rebounds.
THIRD QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS
Northwestern Oklahoma scored 33 points in the third quarter to pull within two, 58-56. The Rangers shot 64.7 percent as Kamera Bozeman had nine points and Jaylan Robinson had eight points. Northwestern Oklahoma also made three 3-pointers. The Rangers held Harding to 18 points, making seven field goals and two 3-pointers.
FOURTH QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS
With 59 seconds left, Falan Miller made a layup to pull Harding within two 76-74. After two missed free throws by the Rangers, Sydney Layrock was fouled on the next Harding possession. She knocked down both to tie the game at 76. Northwestern Oklahoma's Ashley Pride was sent to the foul line after a Harding foul. She made 1-of-2 to put the Rangers up 77-76 with 20 seconds left. On the next Harding possession Lundon Williams was fouled. She knocked down both free throws to give Harding the lead. The Lady Bisons forced a Northwestern Oklahoma turnover and Williams was fouled again with one second left. She made both free throws to seal the Harding victory. The Lady Bisons trailed by six with 2:53 left. The Lady Bisons made 11-of-11 free throws in the quarter.
TEAM STATS
Harding's 24 made free throws was the most made in a home game this season.
The Lady Bisons had 13 offensive rebounds led by Falan Miller who had four. It was the third straight game Harding has grabbed 10 or more offensive boards.
It was the second straight game the Lady Bisons have been outshot but have won. Harding shot 37.3 percent from the field as Northwestern Oklahoma shot 47.5 percent.
Harding went 6-of-23 from behind the 3-point line and the Rangers made 4-of-17.
UP NEXT
Harding will be back in action on Saturday when it hosts Southwestern Oklahoma at 1 p.m., at the Rhodes-Reaves Field House.
