BETHANY, Okla. – Southern Nazarene shot 56% and made 9 of 16 3-pointers to defeat Harding 79-72 Saturday in Great American Conference action at the Sawyer Center.

Southern Nazarene pushed its home winning streak to seven games and improved to 9-3 overall and 6-2 in the GAC. Harding dropped to 7-7 overall and 4-4 in conference.

Crimson Storm guard Sonia Sarda scored 17 points on 8 of 11 shooting in the first half, using dribble penetration to do most of her damage in the paint. As a team, Southern Nazarene outscored Harding 22-12 in the lane in the first half and 34-16 for the game.

Southern Nazarene shot 83% in the first quarter and led 23-19. Harding took the lead briefly in the second quarter, but a 13-2 run by the Crimson Storm late in the period left Harding with a 43-37 halftime deficit. Southern Nazarene shot 67% in the half.

The Crimson Storm never relinquished the lead, pushing its advantage to as many as 15 points midway through the fourth quarter.

Carissa Caples led Harding with a season-high tying 18 points, shooting 7 of 11 from the field and making four 3-pointers. Jordan Elder made five 3-pointers and scored a season-high 18 points. Peyton Padgett led the team with 10 rebounds and a career-high 10 assists.

Harding lost leading scorer Kellie Lampo to an injury in the second quarter. She did not return.

Sarda finished with a career-high 25 points to lead Southern Nazarene.

Harding returns to action Thursday against Arkansas Tech in Russellville.