RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – Highlighting the results from Monday’s Great American Conference women’s basketball contests was Southwestern Oklahoma State extending its streak to six consecutive victories and Harding recording a win over nationally-ranked No. 9 Arkansas Tech to end the longest active home court winning streak in the nation.
HARDING 77, ARKANSAS TECH 69
RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Harding Lady Bisons (11-5, 4-2 GAC) became the first team to beat Arkansas Tech (11-3, 3-3 GAC) inside Tucker Coliseum in Russellville since February 21, 2009 by recording a 77-69 victory over the Golden Suns on Monday. ATU had won 42 consecutive games at home prior to Monday’s loss to Harding. It was the longest home court winning streak in the nation at the NCAA Division II level. The Lady Bisons found themselves up early thanks to 57.6 percent field goal shooting in the first half, which included an 8-of-15 performance from three-point range. HU led the entire first half, with the exception of a 11-11 tie at the 15:16 mark and 19-18 lead for ATU at the 12:30 mark. Following that lead change, Harding responded with a 17-6 scoring runover the next six minutes to grow its lead to double-digits following a three-pointer from Kallie Bartee at the 5:56 mark to give her team a 35-25 lead. HU grew its lead to as much as 13 points in the final two minutes of the first half. The Golden Suns trimmed HU’s lead to one point by the 13:21 mark of the second half, and forced the game’s second tie on a three-pointer from Lily Abreu to make it 57-all. ATU took a lead two minutes later on a layup from Samanta Ludwig, and held that lead for almost two minutes, before the Lady Bisons captured the final lead change of the contest with 6:26 remaining. ATU did force two additional tie scores throughout the remainder of the contest, but was unable to get back on top. Kristen Celsor lead HU with 27 points, while Natalia Santos led ATU with 24.
SOUTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA STATE 93, EAST CENTRAL 55
WEATHERFORD, Okla. – Southwestern Oklahoma State (11-5, 6-1 GAC) added padding to its current lead in the GAC standings with a convincing 93-55 win over East Central (4-13, 2-5 GAC) at home on Thursday. The Bulldogs now hold a two-game lead in the league standings. SWOSU was effective all night on its home court, shooting 63 percent from the field in the first half and 56 percent in the second half, while taking advantage of a 31 percent outing from ECU. After ECU opened the game’s scoring at the 18:28 mark, SWOSU took over and never looked back, growing its lead to double digits by the 12:27 mark of the opening period and as much 19 points in the final minute of the period. The second half was more of the same. The Bulldogs reached the 20-point lead barrier at the 16:28 mark of the final period, while later holding the biggest advantage at 39 points with just under two minutes remaining in regulation. SWOSU had five scorers reach double-figures, led by Darcie Dick’s 19 points. Alex Tucker was the only double-digit scorer for ECU with 11 points off the bench.
OUACHITA BAPTIST 89, HENDERSON STATE 57
ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Ouachita Baptist (11-5, 4-2 GAC) used an explosive first half of 54 points, while holding Henderson State (11-5, 4-2 GAC) to only eight successful field goal attempts in the second half to capture an 89-57 win at home over the Lady Reddies on Thursday in the first installment of the “Battle of the Ravine” basketball edition. Both squads are now tied with Harding for second place in the GAC standings after Monday’s results. In the first half, the Lady Tigers shot nearly 53 percent from the field and held a 26-12 advantage on the boards, leading to a 54-28 edge at the break. OBU’s percentage fell nearly 15 percentage points in the second half, but the Lady Reddies could not find a rhythm either to allow the Lady Tigers to maintain their 30-point lead throughout the final period. OBU’s Nashia James led all scorers with 21 points, while Aungelique Sledge and Krystal Beachum led the Lady Reddies with 11 points each off the bench.
ARKANSAS-MONTICELLO 73, SOUTHERN ARKANSAS 68
MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Arkansas-Monticello (5-11, 1-5 GAC) ended its seven-game losing skid by capturing the team’s first conference win of the season in a 73-68 road-victory over Southern Arkansas (1-15, 1-5 GAC) on Monday night. After trailing 33-27 at halftime, UAM used 55 percent field goal shooting in the second half, and made 18-of-25 free-throw attempts to outscore SAU 46-35 to capture the win. The percentages were the exact opposite in the first half. SAU made almost 60 percent of its shots in the opening period, while UAM was held to just over 31 percent. Tied 67-all with 1:54 remaining, UAM used a 6-1 scoring run to close out the game, all six points coming at the free-throw line, where UAM was a perfect 8-of-8 over the final two and a half minutes. SAU led by as much as eight points in the second half following a layup from Shanece Black with 10:14 remaining in regulation to give her team a 52-44 advantage. UAM’s largest lead came with the final point scored in regulation, a free-throw from Catherine Puckett to give UAM it’s final five-point advantage. SAU’s Shenelda Livingston led all scorers with 23 points, while also adding nine rebounds. Alex Hart led UAM’s trio of double-digit scorers with 21 points.