BOX SCORE || BARTLESVILLE, Okla. - One year after relinquishing a late lead in the Great American Conference Women's Basketball Championship title game, Southwestern Oklahoma State pulled off a late comeback of its own to stun top seeded Harding, 78-74, on Sunday from Bruin Fieldhouse.
The Lady Bulldogs (19-10) outscored the Lady Bisons 23-6 over the final 8:16 to claim their second GAC Tournament title in three years. In both instances, SWOSU defeated Harding in the title game, and the Lady Bulldogs have eliminated the Lady Bisons in all three GAC Tournaments.
SWOSU opened the game on fire by hitting eight of its first 10 shots and jumped out to a 21-10 lead. Late in the half, Harding (29-2), the nation’s second-ranked squad, went on a 15-5 run to take a 34-33 lead only to see SWOSU score the final four points to take a one-point into intermission, 37-36. Taryn Sayama, who hit her first four shots of the half finished with 13 points. Harding’s A’ndrea Haney led all scorers with 15 points.
As hot as SWOSU opened the first half, Harding matched that effort in the opening minutes of the second half. The Lady Bulldogs scored 18 of the first 22 points of the half and when Shana Holmes hit her third 3-pointer of the half, Harding led 54-41 with just over 15 minutes left in the game.
Michelle Fisher spearheaded the comeback as she scored 14 of her 18 points in the second half. She put the Lady Bulldogs ahead for the first time since the halftime break when scored on a lay-up with 55 seconds left. She earned Tournament MVP honors as she averaged 15.7 points and 7.3 rebounds over the three games. Sayama also scored 18 points. Her twin sister, Sarina and Sarah Mendoza each chipped in with 11 points.
Haney led five Lady Bisons in double figures with 18 points. Arielle Saunders collected a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds. GAC Player of the Year Kristen Celsor joined Haney and Saunders on the All-Tournament Team after collecting 16 points and six rebounds.
The Lady Bulldogs and Lady Bisons will learn their NCAA Tournament fate during the NCAA Division II Selection Show. It airs at 9 p.m. on
NCAA.com.
2014 GAC Women’s Basketball Championships All-Tournament Team
Michelle Fisher, G, Southwestern Oklahoma State (Most Valuable Player)
Sarina Sayama, G, Southwestern Oklahoma State
Taryn Sayama, G, Southwestern Oklahoma State
Kristen Celsor, F, Harding
A’ndrea Haney, G, Harding
Arielle Saunders, F, Harding
Ashley Robison, F, East Central
Jacinda Myers-Sanders, F, Arkansas Tech