SEARCY, Ark. — In a quest to win its fourth straight game for the first time since the 2016-17 season, Southern Nazarene fell 66-53 on the road to Harding on Saturday afternoon.
The Crimson Storm (5-9, 4-4 GAC) were riding some momentum heading into Rhodes-Reaves Field House in Searcy after picking up their third straight victory on Thursday night against Arkansas Tech, but the Bisons (10-4, 5-3 GAC) had different plans on their home floor.
SNU held Harding to a 27 percent shooting clip from the floor, but committed 29 fouls in a contest in which they never led. The Bisons went 25-for-35 (71%) from the free-throw line, while the Storm finished 11-for-15 (73%) from the charity stripe. Southern Nazarene shot just 32 percent from the floor, including 22 percent from behind the three-point arc. SNU turned the ball over 14 times in the game and were out-rebounded by Harding 54-41 in the contest as well.
Sophomore Abby Niehues had another fantastic game for SNU as she scored 11 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and blocked seven shots, which ties her career-high. Adrienne Berry led the way in scoring for the Storm as the senior guard scored 12 points on 4-of-11 shooting and also pulled down four rebounds. Niehues and Berry were the only players for SNU in double-figures as Alexus Jones tallied nine points, three rebounds, and two steals, while Sonia Sarda came off the bench to score seven points.
The Storm offense was sputtering early in the first quarter as they turned the ball over four times in the first three minutes of action. SNU shot just 15 percent from the field, but Harding didn't shoot much better at 16 percent as the Bisons took a 15-6 lead into the second quarter, courtesy of making seven free throws in the first 10 minutes.
After closing the first period on a 7-0 run, Harding opened the second quarter on another 7-0 run to push their lead to 22-6. The Storm fought back however and chipped away at the lead as both teams started to find their rhythm on the offensive end. SNU shot 43.8 percent and hit two three-pointers, while Harding shot 46 percent and knocked down 3-of-5 triples as they took a 34-24 lead into the half.
The third quarter was back and forth before SNU went on an 8-0 run to cut the lead to 41-39 before Harding scored five straight. The Storm closed the period with a basket from Madeline Schroepfer to make it 46-41 heading into the final frame.
Harding opened the fourth on a 10-2 run to push their lead back to 13 four minutes in, and that proved to be too much for Southern Nazarene. The Storm picked up some early fouls in the period, and the Bisons went to the free-throw line 14 times. SNU made it interesting however; as Berry knocked down a three to make it 58-50 with 4:11 to play, but that was the closest the Storm came as Harding cruised in the final minutes.
Southern Nazarene is back in action next Thursday night in Shawnee as they take on rival Oklahoma Baptist at Bison Hill at 5:30 p.m.
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