Lampo, Bisons trample Tigers

SEARCY -- The Harding women's basketball team emphatically ended a three-game losing streak Saturday with an 84-56 home rout over Ouachita Baptist.

The Lady Bisons (6-10, 2-6 in the Great American Conference) were glad to be home, playing at Rhodes-Reaves Field House for the first time since Dec. 9. The loss snapped a two-game winning streak for the Tigers (8-6, 4-4), who have now lost five of six on the road and six straight in Searcy.

Freshman Kennedy Cooper came off the bench and led Harding with 22 points, her second 20-point game of the season. Senior Falan Miller made her first start since Dec. 16 and scored 16.

Kellie Lampo, a freshman from Jessieville, made her fourth consecutive start. She scored nine points and grabbed four rebounds.

Sophomore Chasidee Owens, of Springdale, was the only Tiger in double figures with 14 points. Alivia Huell, a junior from Malvern, scored seven points and grabbed three rebounds in 23 minutes. Lake Hamilton graduate Kori Bullard, a senior, scored six points and had two rebounds in 18 minutes.

Ouachita shot 19-for-53, 35.8 percent from the field, and 6-for-19, 31.6 percent. The Tigers struggled at the free throw line, 12-for-20 for 60 percent, and on the boards, losing the rebounding battle 39-25.

The Lady Bisons tied their season high with 13 3-pointers out of 22 attempts, 59 percent, for a second 50 percent or better performance in the last five games. They shot 28-for-53, 52.8 percent, from the field and 15-for-22, 68.2 percent, on foul shots.

Harding tied its season high with 13 3-pointers and shot better than 50 percent (13 of 22, 59 percent) for the second time in its last five games.

Harding used an early 11-0 run and 6 of 8 shooting from distance to pull out to a 25-15 lead after one quarter. The Lady Bisons made their first five 3-pointers and shot 53 percent in the quarter. Ouachita shot 39 percent and was outrebounded 13-5. Miller and Cooper both hit two 3-pointers for Harding.

The hot shooting continued in the second quarter as Harding connected on 54 percent and outscored Ouachita 19-13 to push its lead to 44-28 at halftime. At the break, Harding was 8 of 12 from 3-point range and held a 21-11 rebound advantage.

An early 7-0 Harding run in the third period pushed the advantage to 21 points at 51-30. The Lady Bisons made six consecutive shots and pushed the lead to 58-32 on a Cooper layup.

Ouachita missed eight of its first nine shots in the third quarter and trailed 65-36 after three. Harding shot 50 percent in the period and outscored Ouachita 21-8, limiting the Tigers to only two field goals. Ouachita had its best offensive quarter late, scoring 20 points in the fourth quarter.

The Tigers will open a Battle of the Ravine doubleheader Tuesday at Bill Vining Arena against Henderson State (10-4, 6-2). Harding plays today against Arkansas Tech (10-2, 6-2) at home before traveling to Arkadelphia on Thursday to face Henderson in the Duke Wells Center.

Sports on 01/15/2018

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