GAC WOMEN

Late free throws help Harding win

Harding needed late free throws to advance in the Great American Conference Tournament.

A’ndrea Haney made 5 of 6 free throws in the final 25 seconds to secure a 60-57 victory over Ouachita Baptist in the quarterfinals of the Great American Conference Tournament.

Harding (28-1) won the game despite a second half in which it made 3 of 21 field goals, shooting 0-for-5 from behind the three-point line and went 9 minutes, 42 seconds without scoring. The Lady Bisons also committed 11 turnovers.

The Lady Bisons (28-1) will play the winner between Arkansas Tech and Southeastern Oklahoma today at 8 p.m. in the semifinals.

Haney led Harding with 17 points, tying a season high. Haney made 12 of 14 field goals, which ties for the most made by a Harding player in the GAC Tournament. Arielle Saunders made 12 of 13 in 2012 against Henderson State. Junior guard Shana Holmes finished with 12 points.

Ouachita Baptist shot 41.9 percent from the field (18-of-43) while holding Harding to 26.8 percent (15-of-56). Harding made 27 of 33 free throws (82 percent) which is the most the Lady Bisons have made in a GAC Tournament game. Harding made 26 against Henderson State in 2012.

Ouachita Baptist was led by Nashia James who had 15 points. Katherine West had 12 points for the Lady Tigers.

E.CENTRAL (OKLA.) 67, SOUTHERN ARKANSAS 57

East Central went on a 13-1 run midway through the second half in a victory over over Southern Arkansas.

Ashley Robison and Dillan Webster accounted for all the scoring in a five-minute stretch as the Lady Tigers (19-8) advanced to the semifinals for the second consecutive season and will face Southwestern Oklahoma State at 5:45 p.m. today. Robison finished with 24 points and 10 rebounds, while Webster had 17 points and 6 rebounds.

Aarika Reyna had 21 points for the Lady Muleriders (12-15).

SW OKLA. STATE 66, HENDERSON STATE 60

Trailing 48-45 midway through the second half, Southwestern Oklahoma State (17-10) went on a 17-4 run to advance to the semifinals.

Sarina Sayama came off the bench and made two of her six three pointers during that run, while Michelle Fisher and Kylie Boggess accounted for the other 11 points during that stretch.

Sayama led Southwestern Oklahoma with 20 points, including 14 points in the second half. Fisher had 11 points and 11 rebounds with 4 assists. Boggess had 16 points on 8-of-16 shooting and grabbed 8 rebounds.

ARKANSAS TECH 84, SE OKLAHOMA STATE 53

Arkansas Tech used hot shooting in the first half to earn a quarterfinal victory Friday at Bruin Field House.

Southeastern Oklahoma State jumped out to an early 8-2 lead, but Arkansas Tech responded with a 21-2 run, capped by a three-pointer by Mary Crow with 8:43 left in the first half. The Savage Storm cut the lead to 11, but the Golden Suns pushed ahead to lead 39-19 with 3:31 to play and led 45-23 at halftime.

GAC Tournament At Bruin Fieldhouse, Bartlesville, Okla.

All times Central MEN SATURDAY’S GAMES Semifinals Henderson State vs. Southern Arkansas, noon Arkansas Tech vs. Harding 2:15 p.m.

SUNDAY’S GAME Championship, 1 p.m.

WOMEN TODAY’S GAMES First round GAME 1 (3) SW Oklahoma State 66, (6) Henderson State 60 GAME 2 (2) East Central (Okla.) 67, Southern Arkansas 57 GAME 3 (1) Harding 60, (8) Ouachita Baptist 57 GAME 4 (4) Arkansas Tech 84, (5) SE Oklahoma State 53 SATURDAY’S GAMES Semifinals SW Oklahoma St. vs. East Central (Okla.), 5:45 p.m.

Harding vs. Arkansas Tech, 8 p.m. SUNDAY’S GAME Championship, 3:30 p.m.

Sports, Pages 23 on 03/08/2014

Upcoming Events