ARKADELPHIA – Harding women’s basketball got off to a great start and controlled the offensive boards to defeat Ouachita Baptist, 69-60, Saturday in Great American Conference action at Vining Arena.

The win was Harding’s eighth straight and are part of a two-way tie for first place in the GAC standings. Harding is 15-7 overall and 12-4 in conference, tied with Southeastern Oklahoma. Arkansas Tech and Southern Nazarene were both part of a four-way tie for first but lost Saturday to fall a game behind.

Ouachita lost its 10th straight and dropped to 4-18 overall and 1-15 in conference.

Harding led 22-11 after one quarter, closing the period on a 9-0 run. The Lady Bisons held the Tigers without a point for the last 6:13 of the quarter.

Harding extended its lead to as many as 17 points in the third quarter, and the Lady Bisons held a double-digit lead throughout much of the game.

Harding had 15 offensive rebounds and outscored Ouachita 23-6 on second-chance points.

Cheyenne Brown made 7 of 13 shots and led Harding in scoring with 15 points. She has scored in double figures in all eight games of Harding’s winning streak. Kennedy Cooper scored 11 points before fouling out, and Carissa Caples added 10. Peyton Padgett had a team-high nine rebounds, and Jordan Elder had six assists.

Ouachita Baptist, who only has seven active players, shot 50% from the field. Eden Crow led the Tigers with 20 points.

Harding hosts Arkansas Tech Thursday at the Rhodes-Reaves Field House.

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SEARCY – Carissa Caples and Cheyenne Brown both scored 18 points to lead Harding to a 67-51 victory over East Central Saturday in Great American Conference play at the Rhodes-Reaves Field House.

Harding improved to 14-6 overall and 9-5 in the GAC, moving into a four-way tie for third place in the conference. East Central is also 14-6 overall and 9-5 in conference and part of the tie.

Harding struggled offensively through the first three quarters but shot 60 percent from the field and made 11 free throws in a 25-point fourth quarter. The Lady Bisons held the Tigers to only 28 percent shooting.

Caples shot 6-of-12 from the field and made two of Harding’s four 3-pointers. Brown was 5-of-13 shooting and made eight free throws. Kellie Lampo added 14 points, and Peyton Padgett had a team-high 11 rebounds.

Lakin Preisner led East Central with 17 points and 10 rebounds.

Harding is back in action Thursday at Arkansas-Monticello.

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