ARKADELPHIA, Ark. - The Ouachita Lady Tigers lost their first game of the season at Bill Vining Arena on Saturday in double overtime. The Lady Bisons of Harding escaped with a 78-72 win. THe Lady Tigers were led by Alivia Huell's 18 points and nine rebounds. Kori Bullard and Katie Kalper added 16 and 12 respectively, while pulling down six boards each.

Defense dominated the first two quarters of the game with Ouachita taking a 22-21 lead into halftime. The two teams combined to go 12-59 from the floor while contesting every shot. Chasidee Owens was the only Lady Tiger to have multiple made field goals in the first half, going 2-9 in the half. Harding's Falan Miller led the Lady Bisons, making 2-6 from the floor. Huell led all scorers with six first-half points.

Both teams picked up the offensive tempo in the second half, with Ouachita's Kapler scoring 12 points in the second half. Kapler put the Lady Tigers up by six with five minutes to play in the third quarter with a deep three. After Harding tied it up, the Lady Tigers had a one point lead when Madison Brittain knocked down a three with 39 seconds left to go in the quarter. Ouachita entered the fourth up 39-35.

In the fourth, the Lady Tigers extended their lead to eight when Bria Caldwell drained a three-pointer to put Ouachita up 47-39 with 7:16 to play in regulation. Harding tied it up with 1:47 left on three by Peyton Padgett. Kori Bullard responded with a three on the next possession. Harding knocked down another three to tie the game, 55-55 with 14 seconds left in regulation. The Lady Tigers missed their final shot and th game went to overtime.  

Huell scored the Lady Tigers first five points in the first overtime period. Finding themselves down two, Kori Bullard knocked down a jumper to tie the game at 62-62 with 2:10 remaining. She followed with two free throws to put Ouachita up 64-62 at the 1:19 mark. Harding went up by one on their next possession when Sydnie Jones completed a traditional three-point play. Chasidee Owens sank one of two free-throw attempts to tie the game and send it to a second overtime period.

Harding took the lead on their first possession in the second overtime and never relinquished it. The Lady Tigers pulled within three with just over 30 seconds remaining but couldn't close the gap . The 78-72 loss puts the Lady Tigers at 7-7 on the season.