ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – The Ouachita Lady Tigers defeated the Harding Lady Bisons 87-83 on Saturday, behind a career-high 41 points by Breanna Harris. The victory over Harding was Ouachita's first since 2012.
 
Ouachita (8-15, 5-12 GAC) took the first lead of the game on its first possession, when Katie Kapler scored on a layup. The Lady Tigers then held the lead for the next 39 minutes, never allowing the Lady Bisons to get an advantage.
 
With 13 first-quarter points from Kori Bullard, Ouachita held a 26-12 lead after the first 10 minutes. The Lady Tigers took their largest lead of the quarter on an 11-0 run that put Ouachita ahead 23-9. In the second period, the Lady Tigers held a double-digit lead until Harding pulled within nine points with six minutes until halftime. The Lady Bisons brought the score to 35-32 on a 14-2 run, but an immediate three from Harris put Ouachita ahead by six.
 
The Lady Bisons tied the game at 38 with 2:21 to until the break, but a 10-3 run by the Lady Tigers, highlighted by a last-second three from Alexis Sharp, put Ouachita ahead 48-41 at the half.
 
The Lady Tigers netted 58.1 percent of their shots from the floor in the half, including 7-14 shooting from three-point range. Harris, Bullard and Kapler combined for 44 of Ouachita's 48 points in the first half, with Bullard grabbing a team-high five rebounds.
 
Ouachita maintained a lead of at least eight for the entire 10-minute third quarter. Harris led the Lady Tigers with 13 points in the period, and Ouachita entered the final quarter with a 67-55 lead.
 
Harding opened the fourth quarter with a three-pointer to pull within nine, and the Lady Tigers never gained a double-digit lead for the rest of the contest but never allowed the Lady Bisons to tie or take the lead. With 34 seconds to play, Harding pulled within four, but 5-6 shooting from the free-throw line by Harris in the final 30 seconds allowed Ouachita to grab the four-point win.
 
Harris led all scorers with 25 points in the half, while shooting 13-14 from the charity stripe. She also grabbed a game-high five rebounds. The Lady Tigers converted on just 37.5 percent of their field-goals in the second half but netted 18-20 free-throws.
 
For the game, Ouachita was just under 50 percent from the floor, and the Lady Tigers knocked down 10-20 three-pointers. The Lady Tigers were also 23-26 from the free-throw line.
 
Harris' game-high 41 points came on 11-16 shooting from the floor and a perfect 6-6 shooting from three-point range. Kapler followed with 22 points and eight rebounds, while Bullard added 15 points and a game-high nine boards. Katherine West recorded just four points in the win but led all players with six assists.
 
The Lady Tigers will remain at home for their next contest, as they host Henderson State on Monday, Feb. 15. The game in Vining Arena is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.