ADA, Okla. – The third-ranked Harding women's basketball team fell 76-73 to East Central Saturday in Great American Conference action.
RECORDS
Harding falls to 1-4 on the season and 0-2 in the GAC.
East Central improves to 1-1 on the season and 1-1 in the GAC.
FIRST QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS
Harding took an 11 point lead, 19-8, off a 3-pointer by Carissa Caples. The Lady Bisons went on to lead 22-12 after the first quarter. Kennedy Cooper and Peyton Padgett, each had six points in the quarter. Harding made six 3-pointers in the quarter.
SECOND QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS
Harding extended its lead to 14 points, 26-12, off a jumper by Kellie Lampo. East Central battled back to cut the lead to five, 32-27 at the half. The Lady Bisons made four field goals in the quarter. East Central went 7-of-9 from the free throw line.
THIRD QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS
Harding quickly took a 12 point lead midway through the third quarter. The Lady Bisons held on to that lead until East Central went on a 6-0 run to pull within five, 44-39. East Central made it a two-point game at the end of the quarter, 49-47. East Central made 8-of-17 field goals and scored 20 points in the quarter.
FOURTH QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS
East Central tied the game at 49 with an opening layup in the fourth quarter. The Tigers then took their first lead when Alexa Adair made a 3-pointer. Harding grabbed the lead back with 5:02 left on a 3-pointer by Syndey Layrock. The Lady Bisons took a three point lead until Alexa Adair made a 3-pointer to tie the game at 62 with 3:41 left. With the game tied at 72 with for 40 seconds left, East Central made two free throws to take the lead. With nine seconds left and down by three, 76-73, Harding missed a 3-pointer to give East Central the win. Alexa Adair had 11 points and made three 3-pointers for East Central. The Tigers outscored Harding 28-24 in the quarter.
TEAM/INDIVIDUAL STATS
Harding shot 53.2 percent from the field, making 25-of-47 shots. The Lady Bisons also made 10-of-22 3-pointers but were 13-of-24 from the free throw line.
East Central shot 37.9 percent, making 22-of-58 shots. The Tigers made 12-of-29 3-pointers and 20-of-24 free throws.
Harding was led by Falan Miller who had 12 points, making 5-of-7 shots. Caroline Hogue had 11 points. Sydney Layrock had a game-high eight rebounds.
Alexa Adair finished with 23 points, making 7-of-15 shots and four 3-pointers. Lakin Preisner finished with 14 points for the Tigers.
NEXT GAME
Harding will return home to host Cameron in non-conference action Saturday at 1 p.m., at the Rhodes-Reaves Field House.
