State sports briefs

FOOTBALL

OBU’s Knight GAC coach of the year Ouachita Baptist Coach Todd Knight was named coach of the year Tuesday by the Great American Conference.

Knight led the Tigers to their third GAC championship and their second appearance in the NCAA Division II playoffs.

Arkansas-Monticello senior wide receiver Jalen Tolliver was named offensive player of the year after recording 67 receptions for 1,109 yards and 16 touchdowns. Southern Arkansas junior defensive lineman Davondrick Lison (7½ sacks, 161/2 tackles for a loss) earned the league’s defensive player of the year award. Also, East Central (Okla.) running back Ontario Douglas (1,097 rushing yards, 8 touchdowns) was named freshman of the year.

OBU led the league with 17 All-GAC selections. Southern Arkansas produced 13 All-GAC picks followed by Arkansas Tech and Southeastern Oklahoma State, who each placed 12 on the All-GAC squads.

VOLLEYBALL

UCA’s Anderson Southland player of the year

University of Central Arkansas junior Samantha Anderson was named the Southland Conference player of the year Tuesday.

Anderson, a 6-3 right side player from Tyler, Texas, finished seventh in the Southland in hitting percentage (.330) and kills per set (3.49) in conference matches. She helped lead the Bears to a 13-3 conference record and the No. 2 seed in the Southland Conference Tournament.

Senior middle blocker Megan Nash was named to the Southland first team along with Anderson. Sophomore setter Elizabeth Armstrong earned a second-team selection.

BASKETBALL

Harding women win home opener Caroline Hogue blocked a potential game-winning three-pointer and defended a potential game-tying layup in the game’s final seconds to lift Harding University’s women to a 65-63 victory over Missouri Southern on Tuesday night at Rhodes-Reeves Field House in Searcy.

Hogue blocked a three-point attempt by Jenson Maydew with eight seconds left for her seventh block of the game. After Sydney Layrock missed two free throws with 6.1 seconds left, Maydew had a chance to tie the game, but her shot was off the mark.

Hogue led Harding (1-2) with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Kellie Lampo had 11 points and 7 rebounds. Layrock had 10 points and four rebounds.