ADA, Okla. — Alli McAda scored 19 points and Kennedy Stout keyed a decisive fourth-quarter run as No. 10 Harding overcame a furious second-half rally to defeat East Central 68-55 on Thursday night.

With the victory, the Lady Bisons (22-3, 16-3 GAC) extended their winning streak to eight games and opened up a two-game lead in the Great American Conference standings following an Arkansas Tech loss.

Harding appeared to have the game in hand early, racing out to a 10-0 lead while holding East Central (13-10, 9-10) scoreless for the first several minutes of the contest. The Lady Bison defense was stifling in the first half, allowing just 16 points—the fourth time this season they have held an opponent under 20 in a half.

McAda and Josie Williams each had nine points at the break as Harding built a commanding 36-16 lead.

However, the Tigers came alive in the third quarter. ECU opened the period by hitting their first five shots, outscoring Harding 28-11 in the frame. A barrage of three-pointers from Natalie Milwood, who finished with a team-high 19 points, fueled the comeback. Milwood, who entered the game with only five triples all season, matched that total on Thursday night alone.

Early in the fourth quarter, an ECU three-pointer tied the game at 49-49, completing the 20-point comeback.

Harding responded with the poise of a top-10 team, answering with a 12-3 run to regain control. Kori Sanders ignited the surge with two free throws, followed by a wing three-pointer from Maddi Holt. Stout then took over the interior, scoring on a layup and following it with a traditional three-point play to push the lead to 61-52 with five minutes remaining.

McAda and Sanders iced the game with back-to-back three-pointers in the final minutes. Harding's efficiency was the difference late; the Lady Bisons shot 7-of-11 (63.6%) in the final quarter to stymie the Tigers' momentum.

McAda's 19 points led the way for Harding on 7-of-8 shooting, including 4-of-5 from deep. Williams added 14 points and six rebounds, while Sanders (13) and Stout (13) also finished in double figures. Sanders led Harding with nine assists and eight rebounds, nearly achieving the school's first-ever triple-double.

East Central was led by Milwood's 19 and 12 points from Jayden Weiberg, all of which came from behind the arc.

Harding now holds a 9-8 lead in the all-time series in Ada and has won six straight at the Kerr Activities Center.

UP NEXT

Harding: Travels to Durant, Okla., to face Southeastern Oklahoma State on Saturday at 1 p.m.