SEARCY – Harding held East Central to only 22 percent shooting but still needed a late comeback to defeat the Tigers 51-42 Thursday in Great American Conference action at the Rhodes-Reaves Field House.

Harding led 36-28 after three quarters, but East Central started the fourth quarter on a 10-1 run that included three of the Tigers' six 3-pointers. And despite missing 40 of its first 50 shots, East Central led 38-37 with 3:54 left after Madison Nickens hit the third 3-pointer.

Harding answered with five straight points from freshman Amanda Kearney, two on a drive down the lane and three more on a long-range jumper, that put the Lady Bisons back ahead for good. Kearney's two buckets gave Harding a 42-38 lead and helped the Lady Bisons close the game on a 14-4 run. Seven of Harding's last nine points came at the free-throw line.

The win moved Harding to 8-12 overall and 4-8 in the GAC and avenged a 76-73 loss to East Central in Ada, Oklahoma, on Nov. 18. It was Harding's seventh straight win over East Central in Searcy.

Harding remained in 10th place in the GAC standings but moved to within one game of a pack of four teams tied for sixth place with 5-7 conference records. Eight teams qualify for the conference tournament, and each team has 10 games remaining in the regular season.

East Central dropped to 6-10 overall and 5-7 in conference. The Tigers' field goal percentage was the lowest by a Harding opponent in a GAC game this season.

Sydney Layrock led Harding in scoring with 14 points and had a late layup that helped the Lady Bisons pull away. In the process, Layrock became only the seventh Harding player in program history to score more than 1,400 career points.

Kearney had 11 points and made three of Harding's four 3-pointers. Kellie Lampo added 10 points, and Peyton Padgett tied a career high with 10 rebounds.

East Central did not have a player score in double figures. Reserve post player Aalyiah Blakley led the Lady Tigers with nine points.

Despite limiting East Central to only one field goal, a Devon Branch 3-pointer, Harding trailed 10-9 after one quarter. The Tiger defense held the Lady Bisons to only 3-of-12 shooting, and East Central made 7 of 8 free throws.

East Central scored the first five points of the second quarter to take a 15-9 lead with 8:05 left. About midway through the quarter, Harding went to a full-court press and turned the game around. The Lady Bisons outscored the Tigers 13-5 the rest of the quarter, including a 9-0 spurt that game Harding the lead for the first time since early in the game.

Harding shot 32 percent and limited East Central to 22 percent in the first half. The Tigers were 3 of 16 from 3-point range. Harding led 12-4 in the paint.

Harding outscored East Central 14-8 in the third quarter, ending the period by making five of its last six shots. East Central missed all seven of its 3-pointers in the quarter and shot only 18 percent.

Harding returns to action Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Rhodes-Reaves Field House and will host Southeastern Oklahoma.