Box Score

Henderson State lost its first conference road game of the season as 20th-ranked Harding beat the Reddies 66-48 in Great American Conference women's basketball, Saturday in Searcy, Ark.

Playing their fourth nationally ranked opponent of the season, the Reddies jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead courtesy on buckets by Vanessa Pieper, Aungelique Sledge and Annie Thomas.

However, a veteran Harding team used a 10-0 run to take the lead and also put together numerous runs throughout the game.

Harding, 7-2 overall and 4-0 in the GAC, built a 36-21 halftime lead behind 47 percent shooting as the Lady Bisons converted on 15-of-32 shots from field.

Henderson State had difficulties shooting in the opening 20 minutes as the Reddies made 9-of-33 from the floor including 1-of-12 from the three-point line.

After shooting just 27 percent in the first half, Henderson State managed to convert on 9-of-26 attempts in the second-half to finish the game with a 31 percentage.

Harding built a 30 point second-half lead, but the Reddies fought back and trimmed the deficit to 16 while outscoring the Bisons 23 to 11 the final 10 minutes of the contest.

Sledge led Henderson State with 18 points on 7-of-28 shooting.

Dulincia Keener totaled 10 points and 7 rebounds, while Pieper scored 8 points.

Arielle Sauders scored 23 points and pulled down 9 rebounds to lead Harding.

Henderson State, 2-8 and 0-5, will break for finals before returning to action on Saturday, Dec. 20 when the Reddies travel to Fort Smith to face Arkansas-Fort Smith with tip-off set for 2 p.m.