CLEVELAND, Miss. — Harding erased a 12-point deficit and seized a one-point lead with six seconds remaining, only for Claire Bjorge to convert a game-winning layup with two seconds left as No. 22 Minnesota Duluth escaped with a 73-72 victory on Saturday afternoon at Walter Sillers Coliseum.
In a thrilling fourth quarter that featured 10 lead changes and five ties, 5th-year forward Taelor Coxford converted a second-chance three-point play with six seconds on the clock to put Harding ahead 72-71. However, Bjorge drove the lane for her only field goal of the contest to reclaim the lead for the Bulldogs (2-0), and Ashley Fritz blocked Coxford's last-second layup attempt at the buzzer.
Harding (2-3) dropped the heartbreaker in the first-ever meeting between the two NCAA Division II Central Region programs.
2nd-year guard Kori Sanders paced the Lady Bisons with 15 points and four steals in 39 minutes of action, while 3rd-year guard Allie Rehl recorded 14 points and four assists in her first start of the season. 4th-year guard Josie Williams, playing in her 100th career game and making her 100th consecutive start, finished with 12 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and a career-high-tying five steals.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Minnesota Duluth set the tone early from beyond the arc, connecting on five of its first nine 3-point attempts while Harding struggled to find its shooting touch. The Lady Bisons shot just 11.8 percent (2-of-17) from the floor and 1-of-16 from deep in the opening period, falling behind by 12 points twice before trailing 18-10 after one quarter.
Harding steadied itself in the second frame, matching the Bulldogs 17-17 behind perimeter triples from Sanders and 1st-year forward Rowan Geer, along with four points from 1st-year forward Livi Fosness. A buzzer-beating 3-pointer by Minnesota Duluth's Keagan McVicker sent the Bulldogs into the locker room with a 35-27 advantage.
After Minnesota Duluth pushed its cushion back to 12 points at 43-31 midway through the third quarter, Harding's defensive pressure sparked a comeback. The Lady Bisons converted 9-of-10 free throws in the period and closed the frame on an 11-5 burst—highlighted by back-to-back steals from Williams and Sanders that led to transition points—to trim the deficit to 50-47 heading into the fourth.
Harding pulled even at 54-54 with 6:19 left on a 7-0 run capped by a 3-pointer from Rehl, a steal and fast-break layup by Williams, and a mid-range jumper from 2nd-year center Kennedy Stout. Rehl buried another triple at the 5:45 mark to give the Lady Bisons their first lead of the afternoon at 57-56.
The two teams traded leads seven times over the next four minutes before Minnesota Duluth's Grace Counts drilled a second-chance 3-pointer with 1:08 remaining and Fritz sank two free throws at the 42-second mark to put the Bulldogs ahead 71-66.
Harding refused to fold. After a turnover with 30 seconds left, Rehl stole the ball right back two seconds later. Following a missed 3-pointer, Williams corralled an offensive rebound and kicked out to 2nd-year guard Alli McAda, who buried a triple while drawing a foul with 13 seconds left to pull Harding within 71-69. McAda missed the ensuing free throw, but Rehl grabbed the offensive board, setting up Coxford's putback layup and free throw to give Harding the 72-71 lead before Bjorge's decisive answer at the other end.
STATISTICAL LEADERS
McAda finished with nine points and five rebounds for Harding, while Stout added six points and four boards. Coxford and Geer chipped in five points apiece off the bench, and Fosness added four.
Counts led No. 22 Minnesota Duluth with 21 points on 5-of-7 shooting from 3-point range, while McVicker poured in 19 points (4-of-6 3PT) and five assists off the bench. Torie Neubauer added seven points and eight rebounds.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
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Milestone Afternoon: With her three assists on Saturday, Josie Williams reached 300 career assists, becoming just the 11th player in Harding history to hit the 300-assist mark. She also pushed her career scoring total to 1,126 points while making her 100th consecutive start.
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Hustle & Second Chances: Harding forced 18 Minnesota Duluth turnovers (13 steals) to hold a 21-9 advantage in points off miscues, and pulled down 17 offensive rebounds for a 17-3 edge in second-chance points.
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Sharpshooting Bulldogs: Minnesota Duluth shot 50.0 percent (23-of-46) from the field and 54.2 percent (13-of-24) from beyond the arc, including a 7-of-8 shooting clip in the fourth quarter.
UP NEXT
The Lady Bisons continue their road swing on Tuesday, Nov. 17, traveling to St. Joseph, Missouri, to face Missouri Western. Tip-off is scheduled for 5 p.m.
