ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – In a game that came down to a fraction of a second, No. 14 Harding's late-game comeback attempt fell just short as Henderson State secured a 77-75 victory on Saturday at the Duke Wells Center.
With the clock winding down, Josie Williams connected on a layup at the buzzer that was initially ruled good on the court, which would have sent the game into overtime. However, after two separate video reviews, officials determined the shot was released after the clock hit zero, preserving the win for the Reddies (17-9, 13-9 GAC).
Despite the loss, Williams finished with a career-high 27 points, surpassing her previous mark of 26. She was the focal point of the Harding (23-5, 17-5 GAC) offense all afternoon, shooting 10-of-17 from the floor and keeping the Lady Bisons in front for over 37 minutes of game time.
Harding appeared to be in control early, utilizing a 9-of-15 shooting performance in the first quarter to build a lead. An 8-0 run midway through the second quarter pushed the advantage to as many as 14 points at 40-26. However, Henderson State's Riley Samples hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to end the half, cutting the deficit to 40-29 and sparking a shift in momentum.
The Reddies opened the third quarter with an 11-0 run, eventually taking their first lead of the game at 47-46. Harding responded with a 7-0 spurt, capped by an Amelia Rogers triple and two free throws, to regain a 59-51 lead heading into the final frame.
The fourth quarter saw Henderson State shoot a blistering 72.7% from the field to erase the deficit. Riley Samples led the Reddies with 21 points, including 5-of-6 from beyond the arc. Jayla Lewis hit two free throws with 26 seconds remaining to give HSU a 77-75 lead, setting the stage for the reviewed final play.
Kennedy Stout anchored the Lady Bisons on the glass with seven rebounds, while Kori Sanders added 13 points and four assists. Henderson State's Natalie Cardenas balanced the Reddies' attack with 16 points and seven assists.
Harding, which enters the postseason as the Great American Conference regular-season champion, will be the No. 1 seed at the upcoming GAC Tournament. The Lady Bisons will face No. 8 seed Southern Nazarene on Thursday at 8 p.m. at Northside High School in Fort Smith, Arkansas.
