[January 31, 2008]

Contact: Houston Taylor

MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Goldie White’s three-point bomb gave Southern Arkansas a 5-4 lead at 18:21 in the first half, but it was short-lived as Harding used a 21-4 run to sprint out to a 25-9 advantage and eventually rolled to an 89-59 win over the Lady Muleriders Thursday at the W.T. Watson Athletic Center.

Stacy Owens and Kristen Donnell paced the Lady Bison attack, combining for 42 points and 22 rebounds, each finishing with a double-double. Owens racked up game-highs of 28 points and 12 boards, while Donnell had 14 and 10. The duo combined for 24 points and 15 rebounds in the first half alone, with Owens seeing only nine minutes of action.

HU was up 36-13 on Donnell’s two free throws at 6:14 in the opening frame before claiming a 44-20 margin at the break.

An 11-1 spree in the first 2:32 of the second half put Harding up 57-21, with Owens and Donnell getting nine of those. The Lady Bisons held the 36-point spread at least three more times as SAU never got closer than 30 the rest of the way.

HU came into the game at fifth in the nation in scoring offense, averaging 80.9 points per game, while shooting 45.4 percent. They did nothing to hurt those averages as they connected on 36 of 69 field goals for 52.2 percent. Harding finished 7 of 15 (46.7) from beyond the arc, and was 10 of 13 (76.9) at the free throw line.

Conversely, Southern Arkansas’ offensive struggles continued, hitting just 18 of 66 for a woeful 27.3 percent. They were 5 of 23 (21.7) on three’s, and hit 18 of 25 (72.0) free throws.

The Lady Bisons (13-6, 3-3 GSC) held a 47-36 rebound advantage and piled up the points inside, outscoring the Lady Muleriders (4-14, 0-6 GSC) 52-14.

Owens shot 12 of 18 from the floor, including 4 of 6 treys, in getting her 28 points, while playing only 25 minutes. Donnell was 6 of 12 and hit 1 of 2 freebies. Leah Fugett and Kaitlin May chipped in 11 and 10 points, respectively.

White led SAU with 22 points, hitting 8 of 11 free throws in the process, and was Southern Arkansas’ only player in double figures. Blair Jordan finished with nine points, and Kayla Jones had nine rebounds.

It was the Lady Muleriders 10th consecutive loss. SAU travels to face Arkansas-Monticello Saturday in a 2 p.m. tip-off.