Harding's Women Turn Tables to Win in Overtime

Box Score DENTON, Texas – For the first time in four games this season, the breaks went Harding's way in a close game.

The Lady Bisons went without a field goal attempt through the last three minutes of overtime, but Harding made five free throws during that stretch and held Texas Woman's to only one basket over that time to defeat the Pioneers 74-70 in nonconference action at Kitty McGee Arena.

Freshman Harley Harbour broke a 70-70 tie with a free throw at the 1:01 mark of overtime. Texas Woman's missed its last four shots the rest of the way, and Harding tacked on two free throws from senior Jacie Evans and another from freshman Ella Grace Thompson.

Harding (1-3) dropped its first three games of the season, losing all three by two points or less. The team's fortunes changed Wednesday thanks to 20 points each from Evans and Sage Hawley. Evans added a team-high 10 rebounds for her second double-double of the season and seventh of her career.

Sophomore Aubrey Isbell added 11 points, and Harbour had seven points and six rebounds.

Harding shot 38.5% from the field and made only two 3-pointers, but shot 22 of 30 (73%) at the free-throw line. The Lady Bisons also held the Pioneers to just one 3-pointer. Texas Woman's, a member of the NCAA II Lone Star Conference, suffered its first loss of the season and fell to 2-1.

Texas Woman's had a 7-0 run early in the first quarter and ended the period by scoring the last six points to carry an 18-12 lead into the second quarter.

Harding trailed by eight with 2:04 left in the first half but hit four free throws down the stretch and went to the break down 33-29.

Harding took the lead for the first time in the third quarter. Freshman Tate Wells connected on a 3-pointer at the 3:50 mark to give the Lady Bisons a 42-40 advantage. The period ended tied 47-47.

An 8-0 Harding run midway through the fourth quarter, capped by a three-point play from Jacie Evans, gave the Lady Bisons their largest lead of the game at 59-54 with four minutes left.

Harding led 65-62 with only 47 seconds remaining, but a Texas Woman's free throw with 35 seconds left and a layup with only two ticks remaining tied the game at 65-65 and send it to overtime.

Harding continues its three-game road trip Monday at Delta State in Cleveland, Mississippi. The Lady Bisons follow that game with two contests in Puerto Rico on Wednesday and Thursday.

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Players Mentioned

#1 Jacie Evans: G; 5' 10"; Senior

#24 Sage Hawley: F; 6' 4"; Junior

#32 Aubrey Isbell: G; 5' 10"; Sophomore

#22 Harley Harbour: F; 5' 10"; Freshman

#4 Ella Grace Thompson: G; 5' 5"; Freshman

#5 Tate Wells: G; 5' 6"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#1 Jacie Evans
: 5' 10"; Senior
: G

#24 Sage Hawley
: 6' 4"; Junior
: F

#32 Aubrey Isbell
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: G

#22 Harley Harbour
: 5' 10"; Freshman
: F

#4 Ella Grace Thompson
: 5' 5"; Freshman
: G

#5 Tate Wells
: 5' 6"; Freshman
: G