ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Deploying a stifling defense that has been its calling card this season, Harding women's basketball defeated Ouachita Baptist 75-55 Thursday in the opening game of the Great American Conference schedule at Vining Arena.

Offensively, Harding had five players score in double figures and moved to 5-1 overall and 1-0 in the GAC. Ouachita Baptist fell to 2-3 overall and 0-1 in conference.

Harding connected on three 3-pointers and made 7 of 10 free throws to take a 24-10 lead after one quarter.

The Lady Bisons held the Tigers to 5-of-15 shooting in the second quarter and led 35-21 at halftime. Ouachita missed all eight of its 3-point attempts in the first half.

Josie Williams and Aubrey Isbell both scored 10 points in the half.

Harding pulled away in the second half, outscoring Ouachita in both the third and fourth quarters.

Isbell led Harding with a season-high 19 points. She made two key 3-pointers to help the Lady Bisons pull away in the first quarter and finished 3-of-4 from long range.

Williams finished with 15 points and had three of the team's four steals. Sage Hawley added 11 points and 11 rebounds, and Rory Geer had 11 points and 10 rebounds. Maddi Holt came off the bench and made 4-of-8 from the field and scored 10 points.

TEAM NOTES

·         Harding matched its season high with seven 3-pointers and limited Ouachita to only 3-of-17 from 3-point range, the fewest by a Harding opponent this season.

·         Harding shot 47.3% from the field, its fifth straight game shooting 40% or better.

·         Harding made 16 of 19 free throws, 84.2%, its best effort from the line this season.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

·         Isbell's 19 points were her most this season and the most since she scored a career-high 23 last season at Southern Arkansas.

·         Hawley's 11-point, 11-rebound double-double was the 43rd of her career, one back of Arielle Saunders' school record of 44 … she has four double-doubles this season.

·         Hawley passed Saunders for ninth place on Harding's career scoring list with 1,364 career points.

·         Geer's double-double was her second of the season and the eighth of her career.

·         Williams' 15 points were one off her season high.

·         Holt scored in double figures for the first time in her career.

SERIES NOTES

·         Harding now leads the series 54-29 overall … HU has won the last five … HU leads 23-16 in Arkadelphia … HU has won 22 of the last 24 meetings.

UP NEXT

·         Harding hosts Southern Arkansas on Sunday at 3 p.m. at Rhodes-Reaves Field House.