ARKADELPHIA, AR - Henderson got 16 points and six assists from Pink Jones, had two other players in double figures and led entering the fourth quarter, but first-place Harding used a big run late to defeat the Reddies 76-64 in Arkadelphia on Saturday afternoon. 

Harding ended the first quarter up 21-19, but Henderson got going in the second, and got two 3-pointers each from Blu Jones and Brittany Branum on their way to building a 33-24 lead over the Lady Bisons. Harding answered, though, going on a 6-0 spurt to end the half, leaving the Reddies' lead at 33-30 at the break.

The Lady Bisons came out strong in the third period, going on an 11-6 run over the first five minutes of the second half to retake a 41-39 lead. For the rest of the quarter it was back and forth, as the lead changed five times over the next four minutes, with the Reddies eventually grabbing a 49-48 advantage heading into the final quarter.

The fourth quarter proved to be tight early, but with Harding up 61-58 and just over four minutes remaining, the Lady Bisons ripped off a 10-0 run over the next two minutes to seize control of the game 71-58. Henderson cut the lead to nine on a 3-pointer from Haleigh Henson with 1:42 left, but ultimately ran out of gas and fell 76-64.

Jones led the Reddies with 16 points, while Brittany Branum and Blu Jones both chipped in 10 of their own. Hailey Estes led the rebounding efforts for Henderson, pulling down 10 boards in defeat.

As a team, Henderson forced 15 Harding turnovers while only committing seven of their own, but only shot 33.3 percent from the field while the Lady Bisons shot 48.3 percent.

Henderson's next game is Thursday on the road against Oklahoma Baptist at 5:30 in Shawnee, Oklahoma.