[February 28, 2008]

By: Houston Taylor

SEARCY, Ark. – Harding led throughout in rolling past Southern Arkansas, 84-52, Thursday at Rhodes Field House. The Lady Bisons improved to 18-8 overall and 8-5 in Gulf South Conference play, while the Lady Muleriders dropped to 5-20 and 1-12.

HU used a 42-11 run in the first half to blow past SAU and take a commanding 51-25 halftime advantage. Harding took an early 4-0 lead before Blair Jordan’s three-pointer pulled Southern Arkansas to within 9-8 at 16:15, but Kristen Donnell’s lay-up afterwards ignited the Lady Bisons’ romp.

Donnell put up a double-double on the night with 20 points and 11 rebounds and got help from Stacey Owens who posted a game-high 24 points, including 15 during their big run. The margin was 51-19 with 1:23 left when the Lady Muleriders ended the rout by scoring the last six points of the half.

A 20-10 run from the beginning of the second frame gave HU its largest margin of the game, 71-35, at 7:02, and they matched the 36-point spread again at 4:30 on a Donnell lay-up. Keysha Hill’s lay-up for SAU set the final margin at 1:48 as neither team scored the rest of the way.

Harding had a hot hand, knocking down 32 of 59 field goals to finish at 54.2 percent, including 10 of 20 from beyond the arc. They were 10 of 12 (83.3) at the free throw line. Conversely, Southern Arkansas hit just 19 shots the whole game, in 60 attempts, for 31.7 percent. They were 6 of 23 (26.1) from downtown and 8 of 11 (72.7) from the charity stripe.

The Lady Bisons demolished their visitors inside, using a 50-17 rebound advantage to outscore the Lady Muleriders 42-20 in the paint. SAU had only two offensive rebounds in the game. Southern Arkansas took care of the ball though, suffering only 10 turnovers while forcing 18 which they turned into 17 points.

Owens was 7 of 10 from the floor, hitting four treys, and all six of her free throws. She also added eight rebounds. Rachel Carter scored 13 points, and Catherine McMenamy chipped in 10.

Goldie White finished with 21 points in leading the Lady Muleriders. Laura Suggs added nine points, and Hill had four rebounds.

SAU closes out their season Saturday when they host Arkansas-Monticello. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. at the W.T. Watson Athletic Center.