Lady Bison Basketball Falls to Arkansas Tech 50-43

Courtesy Harding University Athletics Department

SEARCY – The Harding women’s basketball team fell 50-43 to Arkansas Tech on Thursday night in Great American Conference action. The Lady Bisons fall to 11-5 overall and 7-3 in the GAC.

The loss snapped an eight game winning streak by Harding and it was the Lady Bisons first home loss of the season.

Neither team shot well in the game. Arkansas Tech was 15-of-58 from the field (25.9 percent) and HU was 13-of-54 (24.1 percent). The last time the Lady Bisons shot 25 percent was in 2010 against North Alabama. Harding shot 24.6 percent and fell 50-46 in Searcy.

The Lady Bisons were led by junior guard Lauren Crenshaw who had a career-high 17 points, making three 3-pointers. Sophomore forward Arielle Saunders had 10 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for her six double-double of the season. It was the second-straight game she has had a double-double.

Arkansas Tech opened the game on a 13-1 run in the first nine minutes of action. Harding’s first basket didn’t come until the 11:12 mark when Arielle Saunders hit a jumper in the lane. The Lady Bisons trailed 25-13 at halftime. It was the fewest points in a half since Harding trailed Valdosta State 27-12 at halftime in 2006.

Harding cut the ATU lead to five with 1:54 left to play on an 11-0 run on a layup by Arielle Saunders. The Lady Bisons ran out of time. Senior guard Roselis Silva made 6-of-8 free throws in the final seconds to give Arkansas Tech the victory.

Arkansas Tech was led by Roselis Silva who had 14 points, nine rebounds and six steals. Silva hit two 3-pointers for ATU.

The Golden Suns outrebounded Harding 51-37. Seven ATU players had three or more rebounds. Arkansas Tech grabbed 18 offensive boards and turned them into 22 points.

Harding had a season-high 10 blocks, which tied for third most in HU history. For the second straight game Kristen led HU with four.

The Lady Bisons will be back in action on Saturday as they host East Central at 2 p.m., at the Rhodes Field House.