FORT SMITH, Ark. – Despite a valiant fourth-quarter comeback attempt, the top-seeded Harding women's basketball team saw its Great American Conference Tournament run come to an end Saturday night with a 67-64 loss to Southeastern Oklahoma at Northside Arena.
Harding (24-6) will now await the announcement of the NCAA Division II Tournament field. The selection show is scheduled for Sunday at 9:30 p.m. on NCAA.com. The Lady Bisons entered the week ranked No. 4 in the Central Region.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Lady Bisons faced a double-digit deficit for much of the second half after the Savage Storm (18-12) used a 16-8 second-quarter run to take control of the game. Southeastern led by as many as 14 points with 2:23 remaining in the third period.
Trailing 59-49 midway through the fourth, Harding's trademark grit sparked a 15-6 run. Kennedy Stout ignited the interior offense with three late buckets, and Maddi Holt brought the Black-and-Gold fans inside the Northside Arena to their feet with a clutch tip-in and free throw to cut the deficit to 65-62 with 53 seconds left.
After Southeastern's Kenzli Warden answered with a layup, Kori Sanders raced down the floor for a fast-break score to make it a one-possession game with 21 seconds remaining. Harding's defense forced two missed free throws on the ensuing possession, giving the Lady Bisons the ball with 12 seconds left and a chance to tie. However, a contested 3-point attempt at the buzzer wouldn't go, allowing the Storm to escape with the upset.
STATISTICAL LEADERS
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Maddi Holt: Led Harding with 16 points, including a perfect 3-of-3 from beyond the arc.
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Kori Sanders: Finished with 14 points and a team-high eight rebounds.
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Kennedy Stout: Anchored the post with 10 points and seven rebounds.
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Josie Williams: Contributed 10 points and seven boards.
Harding outrebounded Southeastern 46-42 and pulled down 17 offensive rebounds. However, the Lady Bisons struggled to find their rhythm from the floor, finishing at 32.4% for the game.
UP NEXT
The Lady Bisons return to Searcy to await their postseason fate. As the No. 4 seed in the final Central Region rankings, Harding is in a strong position to earn an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.
