BOX SCORE
BARTLESVILLE, Okla. – Second-seeded Southwestern Oklahoma State advanced to its second consecutive Great American Conference Women’s Basketball Championship title game by eliminating third-seeded Harding, 82-68, on Saturday in the opening semifinal from the Bruin Fieldhouse.
The Lady Bulldogs (23-5), who captured last year’s title by beating Harding in the final, hit seven 3-pointers in the first half and built an early 19-point advantage. Mariah Oyler came off the bench and drilled four 3-pointers. Conversely, Harding (19-9) shot just 30.8 percent during the opening 20 minutes and trailed 42-25.
Southwestern Oklahoma State-Harding Photo Gallery
The Lady Bisons opened the second half by scoring 18 of the first 26 points to cut their deficit to seven, 50-43. Tabitha Haney knocked home two of her game-high five 3-pointers during this Harding spurt. However, Harding would get no closer than six the remainder of the contest.
First-Team All-GAC selection Michelle Fisher led four Lady Bulldogs in double figures with 20 points. Sarah Mendoza added 15 points, five rebounds and five assists. Oyler finished with 14 and her twin sister SaRaya added 10. SWOSU’s bench outscored the Harding reserves by a 28-7 margin.
Haney paced Harding with 18 points. Kristen Celsor and Montana Lewis both scored 14. Lewis grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds.
In the final, Southwestern Oklahoma State will face the winner of the Arkansas Tech-East Central semifinal at 1 p.m. Sunday. The Lady Bulldogs lost both regular-season contests to the Golden Suns and split with the Lady Tigers.