SEARCY, Ark. — Senior Whitney Thomas netted a penalty kick just 28 seconds into the second half, providing the Harding Lady Bisons with a decisive 1-0 victory over Southwestern Oklahoma State on Thursday in Great American Conference action at the Stevens Soccer Complex.

With the win, Harding (8-5-2 overall, 6-2-1 GAC) jumped into the top spot in the conference standings with 19 points, one point ahead of second-place Ouachita Baptist. The regular season champion earns the right to host the GAC Tournament in November.

Thomas's goal was her second penalty kick conversion and fourth overall goal of the season, tying her for the team lead. She fired the ball low to the right side of the net to beat the Southwestern Oklahoma goalkeeper.

The Lady Bisons' offense launched a season-high 27 shots against the Bulldogs, the most since a 29-shot outing in 2021.

Junior goalkeeper Maysa Willis recorded her fourth shutout of the year and the team's fifth overall, stopping six shots on 12 attempts faced. The defensive effort marked only the ninth time in 41 all-time meetings that Harding has blanked Southwestern Oklahoma.

The victory also broke a long home drought for the Lady Bisons, securing their first win against the Bulldogs in Searcy since 2016 and snapping an eight-game home winless streak in the series.

Harding has three regular season games remaining, beginning Saturday when they host Northwestern Oklahoma, currently in fourth place in the GAC standings.