Skip To Main Content

Harding University Athletics

2020_21_Story_Image_wbball_at_ATU_1.jpg2020_21_Story_Image_wbball_at_ATU_1.jpg
76
Harding Hard 0-2,0-2 GAC
78
Winner Arkansas Tech ATU 4-0,3-0 GAC
Harding Hard
0-2,0-2 GAC
76
Final
78
Arkansas Tech ATU
4-0,3-0 GAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Harding Hard 18 18 21 19 76
Arkansas Tech ATU 20 18 20 20 78

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | by Scott Goode (1/11/21)

Harding Women's Basketball Suffers Close Loss at Arkansas Tech

RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas Tech's Jayana Sanders broke a tie with a 3-pointer with just under a minute left and the Golden Suns held on to defeat Harding 78-76 Monday in Great American Conference play at Tucker Coliseum.

Sanders, who scored a game-high 23 points, hit the 3 from the right wing to give Tech a 77-74 lead. Carissa Caples then pulled Harding within a point on a jumper in the paint with 25 seconds left. Harding fouled and Sanders missed two free throws to give the Lady Bisons one last chance.

Harding got the ball inside, but Tech's Nikki Metcalfe blocked the shot. The Lady Bisons fouled with five seconds left, and Tech's Trelynn Tyler made one of two free throws. Harding raced back down the court but did not get a shot off before the final buzzer.

"Every time Tech needed a big shot, they made one," Harding head coach Tim Kirby said. "We would take the lead and they would hit a 3."

Harding had 36 points in the paint and its two leading scorers were post players. Kellie Lampo, playing for the first time in a year after suffering a knee injury last season, and Sage Hawley both had 14 points. Jordan Elder made three of Harding's five 3-pointers and scored 13 and Caples scored 12.

"I thought for 40 minutes we played a complete game," Kirby said. "It wasn't always clean but we played well. These games against Tech are always battles."

The loss dropped Harding to 0-2 overall and in the GAC. The Lady Bisons return home Thursday to host Henderson State. Tech remained undefeated at 4-0 overall and in first place at 3-0 in the GAC.

Harding trailed in the fourth until Hawley made two free throws and a jumper to take a 69-66 advantage with 3:46 left. Tech answered with a 3-pointer from Ashlei Lopez and a three-point play from Kayley Shipman that put the Suns back up 72-69.

The lead changed hands 10 times in the third quarter with Harding outscoring Tech 21-20 in the period. The Golden Suns led 58-57 entering the fourth. Harding shot only 38% in the third quarter but outscored Tech 8-1 at the free-throw line.

A 9-0 Tech run early in the second quarter gave Tech a 29-21 lead, but Harding got a late 3-pointer from Elder to pull the Lady Bisons back to within 38-36 at halftime. Elder and Lampo led Harding with eight points each. Sanders led Tech with 10.

Harding scored half of its 36 first-half points in the paint and held a 23-15 rebound advantage.

Harding trailed 20-18 after one quarter. The Lady Bisons shot 46% in the period but had eight turnovers. Tech shot only 5 of 15 (33%) but made 8 of 8 free throws and led most of the quarter.
Print Friendly Version