Box Score (html)
SEARCY, Ark. – SWOSU Women's Basketball fell to Harding 76-72 on the road Saturday evening to split their first Arkansas road trip of the season after previously defeating Arkansas Tech back on Thursday.
The Lady Bulldogs shot 26 percent from the field in the half on 8-31 shooting including 2-11 (18%) from three-point range. SWOSU was able to get to the foul line more than Harding, which allowed them to stay in the game in the early going, knocking down nine of their 10 foul shots in the two quarters. The Lady Dawgs turned the ball over nine time in the half, allowing HU to score nine points off of those mishaps. Going into the locker room, it was Harding leading SWOSU 34-27.
In the third quarter, SWOSU fought to stay in the game by coming back to tie the game at 40-40 from a nine point deficit, and even lead the Lady Bisons for a short stint at 48-47. After the Lady Dawgs took the lead after a
Taylor Hedrick layup, Harding responded with a 9-0 run to close out the quarter and regain control heading into the final 10 minutes.
SWOSU again found itself down double digits with 7:22 left in the game, this time down 12. But the stingy Lady Bulldogs found a way to cut into the lead by going on an 8-0 run, trailing by only two at 68-66 with 3:49 to play after back-to-back three pointers from
Hailey Tucker and
Hayden Priddy sparked the spurt. But as they did all evening, HU responded with a score to slow the momentum. A
Tyra Aska jumper got SWOSU back within one at 71-70 with 2:31 remaining, but the score was immediately answered with a Harding three pointer to push the deficit back to four. The Lady Dawgs would get two more off of a layup, but resorted to fouls hoping to extend the game. HU hit two more free throws after being fouled twice and put the game away, beating SWOSU 76-72.
Tucker and Priddy ended with 17 points followed by
Whitney Dunn at 16 and Aska with nine. SWOSU ended the game shooting 25-64 (39%) including 9-26 (35%) from three. The Lady Bulldogs turned the ball over 14 times that allowed HU to score 14 points off the mistakes and were out rebounded 48-38 in the contest.
The loss drops SWOSU to an even 2-2 on the year and 1-1 in GAC play. The Dawgs won't play again until next Saturday (Nov. 26) against Northeastern State in Tahlequah, Okla. for a non-conference matchup.
