Strong first quarter paces Harding women

Harding University (21-6, 17-3 Great American Conference) outscored Northwestern Oklahoma State 19-8 in the first quarter Saturday on its way to a 64-50 victory at Rhodes-Reaves Field House in Searcy.

The Bisons shot 41.8% from the floor in the first quarter then went cold in the second, shooting just 25%. That didn’t last long as Harding shot 50% in the third quarter and 54.5% in the fourth to finish at 44% from the floor for the game. Harding also held slight advantages in rebounding (33-31) and points in the lane (24-22).

Sage Hawley led Harding with 15 points, while Rory Geer added 12 and Jacie Evans chipped in with 10. Carly Craig led Northwestern Oklahoma State (11-13, 7-13) with a game-high 17 points.

In other Great American Conference women’s games Saturday, Ashley Farrar scored 24 points — including 16 from the free-throw line — to lead four Henderson State University (16-10, 13-7) players with 10 or more points in an 85-76 victory over East Central (Okla.) (10-14, 7-13) at the Duke Wells Center in Arkadelphia. … Laney Means scored 23 points and Makayla Miller poured in 20 for Ouachita Baptist University (12-12, 9-11) in a 74-68 victory over Southeastern Oklahoma State (7-18, 5-15) at Vining Arena in Arkadelphia. … Southern Arkansas University (12-14, 8-12) outscored Oklahoma Baptist (14-12, 10-10) 51-22 in the first half to pull away for an 87-51 victory at the W.T. Watson Athletic Center in Magnolia. Jessica Jones led SAU with 17 points and Kylie Minter added 15 off the bench. … Jalei Oglesby scored 23 points and Alex Hill added 21 for Arkansas Tech University (13-11, 11-9) in a 73-65 loss to Southwestern Oklahoma State (8-17, 8-12) at Tucker Coliseum in Russellville.

… Southern Nazarene (22-4, 19-1) outscored the University of Arkasnsas at Monticello 42-24 in the second half to pull away for a 70-52 victory at Steelman Fieldhouse in Monticello. Cyarah Kensmil led the Cotton Blossoms (9-17, 6-14) with 13 points.