MONTICELLO, Ark. – Harding used a dominant third quarter to open up a close game and defeat Arkansas-Monticello 70-53 Saturday in Great American Conference action at Steelman Field House.

The victory was Harding's 12th straight over Arkansas-Monticello, its sixth straight in Monticello, and was its first road win of the season. The Lady Bisons improved to 7-12 overall and 3-8 in the GAC. Arkansas-Monticello (5-10, 1-9) lost its third straight home game overall and remained winless in five home conference games.

Harding led 29-26 at halftime, but shot 9 of 16 in the third quarter, holding UAM to only 18 percent and outscoring the Blossoms 23-7. Sydney Layrock had nine points in the period and led the Lady Bisons with 20 points, moving past Nancee Wilson into seventh in career scoring at Harding.

The Lady Bisons led 52-33 after three. Arkansas-Monticello mounted comeback in the fourth quarter and pulled within 11 points on three occasions but never got any closer.

Chelsea Heidebrecht drilled a 3-pointer from the right wing as time expired in the first half to give the Lady Bisons a 29-26 lead.

Harding had that lead despite shooting 29 percent in the first half. Both teams made nine field goals in the first half, but, thanks to a 24-17 rebound margin, Harding had 10 more shots than UAM.

Harding led 13-11 after one quarter, but Arkansas-Monticello made its first five shots of the second quarter, including a pair of 3-pointers from Whitney O'Dell. Taylor Farley made a 3 with 6:39 left in the period that gave UAM a 24-15 lead.

The Blossoms did not have another field goal in the quarter, and the Lady Bisons went on an 11-0 run over the next four minutes to take 26-24 lead.

Layrock was 7 of 13 from the field, including two 3-pointers. Falan Miller added 10 points and a team-high six assists.

Mackenzie Johnson led UAM with 12 points, connecting on 4 of 5 from the field and 4 of 6 free throws. Brittnee Broadway had 11 points and eight rebounds.

Harding returns to action Thursday to take on East Central at the Rhodes-Reaves Field House at 5:30 p.m.