Skip To Main Content

Harding University Athletics

2023-24 wbball vs. Texas Woman's
71
Texas Woman's TWU 10-2,4-0 Lone Star
72
Winner Harding Hard 9-1,4-0 GAC
Texas Woman's TWU
10-2,4-0 Lone Star
71
Final
72
Harding Hard
9-1,4-0 GAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Texas Woman's TWU 16 18 17 20 71
Harding Hard 23 17 12 20 72

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Scott Goode (12/19/23)

Harding Sinks No. 5 Texas Woman's, Wins Ninth Straight

SEARCY – Harding freshman Josie Williams connected on the game-winning free throw with 3.1 seconds left to give the Lady Bisons a 72-71 victory over No. 5-ranked Texas Woman's in nonconference action Tuesday at Rhodes-Reaves Field House.

Harding improved to 9-1 overall with its ninth straight victory overall and its 17th straight at home. Texas Woman's lost for only the second time and dropped to 8-2.

The ninth tie of the game came with just over 10 seconds remaining when Texas Woman's made only its second 3-pointer of the game.

On Harding's next possession, Williams, who scored a career-high 26 points, drove hard to the basket on the right side and drew a foul. Williams made her 25th consecutive free throw, going back eight games, before missing the second.

The loose-ball rebound rolled out of bounds near midcourt with 1.3 seconds left. Harding's Kendrick Bailey deflected the Texas Woman's inbounds pass to seal the victory for the Lady Bisons.

Harding led by as many as 10 points midway through the second quarter and held a 40-34 advantage at halftime.

Harding shot 61.1% in the first quarter, connecting on 11 of 18 shots and led 23-16. Williams had seven points in the second quarter, and Harding continued its hot shooting, hitting 7 of 13 for 53.8%. Texas Woman's scored 14 of its 18 second-quarter points in the paint.

Harding cooled off in the third quarter, hitting only 3 of 13 (23%), and led only 52-51 entering the fourth.

The lead changed hands six times in the fourth quarter before Williams' free throw sealed it.

Sage Hawley battled foul trouble throughout and finished with 12 points and eight rebounds. Isbell scored all 11 of her points in the first half, and Rory Geer added 10 points, 

Williams made 8 of 17 shots, including 5 of 7 3-pointers, and 5 of 6 free throws. It was her first collegiate 20-point game.

TEAM NOTES
  • Harding's victory over No. 5 Texas Woman's was only its third win over a top-5 ranked team in program history ... the Lady Bisons defeated No. 1 Delta State 69-66 in 2011 and No. 5 Central Missouri 96-67 in 2013.
  • Harding shot a season-high 50% from the field, connecting on 27 of 54 shots ... Texas Woman's shot 45%, the highest by a Lady Bison opponent.
  • Harding shot 40% or better from 3-point range for the second time this season.
  • Harding held Texas Woman's to 2 of 11 shooting from 3-point range, the fewest 3s made by an opponent this season.
  • Harding has two one-point wins and no other victories by fewer than 11 points.
  • Harding was outrebounded for only the third time this season.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
  • Josie Williams' five 3-pointers were the most by a Harding player this season ... she has led HU in scoring in two of the last three games ... Williams' 26 points were the second most by a Lady Bison this season.
  • Kendrick Bailey tied her season high with six assists, the most by a Harding player this season
  • Aubrey Isbell scored in double figures for the fifth straight game
  • Rory Geer has made 27 of 28 free throws over the last eight games
SERIES NOTES
  • Harding leads the series 6-3 and has won the last three meetings ... HU is 2-0 in Searcy, last defeating Texas Woman's at home in 1999
UP NEXT
  • Harding plays its third of four straight games at home on Jan. 4 against Southeastern Oklahoma in GAC action ... HU enters the break 4-0 in conference play ... SE is 0-4 and has lost its last five.
Print Friendly Version