SEARCY - Harding's stifling defense limited Arkansas Tech to a season-low point total as the Great American Conference regular season and tournament champion Lady Bisons claimed a 59-46 victory in the NCAA Division II Central Region women's basketball tournament opening round.
Sydnie Jones led Harding with 15 points and eight rebounds, while Caroline Hogue notched a near double-double with 12 points and nine rebounds. Senior point guard A'ndrea Haney dished out a game-high six assists to go with nine points.
Anissa Pounds led Tech with 17 points and was the lone Golden Sun to score in double figures. Cheyenne North took game honors with 13 rebounds and four blocked shots.
The Lady Bisons roared out of the gates with a 13-3 lead in the first five minutes and pushed that edge to 19-7 after one quarter.
Harding, which only committed two opening-half turnovers, held Arkansas Tech without a field goal in the final 5:24 of the second quarter to go into the break up 33-20.
The offensive frustration only grew for Tech in the third stanza. The Golden Suns missed their final 15 field goal attempts of the third quarter as HU possessed 47-26 lead heading into the final ten minutes.
Tech closed to within a dozen at 56-44 on a Pounds field goal in the final three minutes, but the Golden Suns could draw no closer.
Harding hit on 21 of 53 from the field for 39.6 percent, while Arkansas Tech was limited to 18 of 60 shooting for 30 percent. The Golden Suns only connected on 2 of 20 long range attempts. The teams battled to a near draw on the glass as the Lady Bisons held a 43-42 margin.
The second-seeded Lady Bisons advance to Saturday's semifinal round where they will face the winner of No. 3 Minnesota State-Moorhead and No. 6 Central Missouri.
NOTES:
---Harding won the regular season meetings against Arkansas Tech by scores of 72-58 and 64-62, plus the GAC Tournament championship game 75-73.
---The victory was Harding's first NCAA Division II tournament victory in school history and the Lady Bisons are 1-2 overall.
---Arkansas Tech made their 14th appearance in the NCAA Division II post-season and the Golden Suns are 20-14 all-time.
---Harding is a perfect 13-0 at home during the 2016-17 season.
