Lady Bison Basketball Defeats Northwestern Oklahoma State on Saturday

Courtesy HU Athletics Department

SEARCY – The Harding women’s basketball team stayed perfect at home this season as they defeated Northwestern Oklahoma State 60-46 in Great American Conference action at the Rhodes Field House. The Lady Bisons improved to 7-4 overall and 3-2 in the GAC.

Harding is 5-0 overall at home and is perfect in GAC action at the Rhodes with a 3-0 record.

Sophomore guard Montana Lewis led HU with 11 points. Fellow sophomore Arielle Saunders had 10 points and grabbed nine rebounds for the Lady Bisons. Junior forward Kristen Celsor scored eight points and grabbed a career-high 15 rebounds. It was the third straight game Celsor has grabbed more than 10 rebounds in a game. Senior guard Deshelle Isaac-Boyce also grabbed a career-high seven rebounds.

The Lady Bisons had a season-high 49 rebounds. HU grabbed 21 more rebounds than Northwestern Oklahoma State who had 28. It was the third straight game Harding has had 45 or more rebounds. HU had 48 against Southwestern Oklahoma State and had 46 against Christian Brothers.

The Harding defense held the Rangers to shooting 28 percent from the field. It was the second time this season HU has held their opponent to shooting under 30 percent and the sixth time holding their opponent to shooting under 35 percent from the field.

Harding jumped out to a 12-0 lead to start the game and led the rest of the game. HU took a 29-23 lead at halftime. The Lady Bisons extended their lead to 23 with 10:38 left on a jumper by Deshelle Isaac-Boyce. The Rangers then went on a 7-0 run to cut the HU lead to 16 with 5:33 left to play. Harding answered back making three free-throws and took the victory.

Northwestern Oklahoma State (3-8, 2-3 GAC) was led by junior guard Dierra Gilmore who came off the bench and had 11 points. Senior forward Titania Simmons had 10 points.

Harding will be back in action next Thursday as they travel to Arkadelphia, Ark., to face Henderson State at 5:30 p.m., in GAC action.