Hawley leads Harding women to victory

Sage Hawley had game highs of 23 points and 14 rebounds, including 12 on the defensive glass, to lead Harding University (20-6, 16-3 Great American Conference) to a 68-48 victory over Southwestern Oklahoma State (7-17, 7-12) at Rhodes-Reaves Field House in Searcy on Thursday.

The Bisons jumped ahead early, leading 20-9 at the end of the first quarter and 36-18 at halftime. They shot 48.3% from the floor, including 4 of 7 three-pointers, while outrebounding the Bulldogs 50-28 and outscoring them 44-20 in the lane.

Aubrey Isbell had 14 points for Harding, while Rory Geer and Harley Harbour added 10 each. Morgan Smith led Southwestern with 10 points.

In other Great American Conference women’s games Thursday, Cyarah Kensmil scored 14 points for the University of Arkansas at Monticello (9-16, 6-13) in a 55-50 loss to Oklahoma Baptist (14-11, 10-9) at Steelman Fieldhouse in Monticello. …

Northwestern Oklahoma State (11-12, 7-12) outscored Arkansas Tech University

28-17 in the fourth quarter to pull away for an 80-68 victory at Tucker Coliseum in Russellville. Jalei Oglesby led the Golden Suns (13-10, 11-8) with 24 points and Kaley Shipman added 18. … Makayla Miller scored a game-high 18 points to lead four Ouachita Baptist University (11-12, 8-11) players with 10 or more points in a 79-54 victory over East Central (Okla.) (10-13, 7-12) at Vining Arena in Arkadelphia. … Ashley Farrar led all scorers with 21 points and Gracie Raby chipped in with 13 for Henderson State University (15-10, 12-7) in a 68-59 victory over Southeastern

Oklahoma State (7-17, 5-14) at the Duke Wells Center in Arkadelphia. … Kylie Warren had 12 points and Jessica Jones added 11 for Southern Arkansas University

(11-14, 7-12) in a 92-71 loss to Southern Nazarene (21-4, 18-1) at the W.T. Watson Athletic Center in Magnolia.