After committing 14 first-half turnovers, the Lady Bisons’ basketball team found itself on the verge of a second straight conference loss on Monday, Jan. 25, trailing Southern Arkansas University (SAU) by 11 entering the fourth quarter.
“We couldn’t catch balls; we couldn’t hold on to the ball; we couldn’t make shots; and we weren’t even getting back on defense to get stops,” junior guard Andi Haney said. “Those first three quarters were what I call the ‘Bad News Bears.'”
Head coach Tim Kirby said in a postgame interview with Harding Sports Information that he challenged his team at halftime to be tough and respond to the adversity in the second half.
“Halftime was pretty tense; coach Kirby was mad and everybody was on edge,” senior guard Kaylee Wiedower said. “Andi (Haney) and I just (told the team) we need to play together and just keep battling.”
The Lady Bisons responded in a big way, scoring 32 points in the fourth quarter and ending the game on a 17-1 run to secure an 83-74 win over the Lady Muleriders. Wiedower led the team with a career-high 21 points, shooting 7-7 from the 3-point line.
“I didn’t even know until after the game when my mom told me that I made all 7 (shots),” Wiedower said. “But I’m really proud of my teammates, because we have never been down (for) a whole game and come back like that.”
Haney finished with 10 points and three assists for the Lady Bisons, but gave credit to her teammates for the way they fought their way back.
“We could have easily just laid down and let the 11-point lead become a 20-point lead,” Haney said. “I’m really proud of the team; we really came together.”
The win moved the Lady Bisons’ Great American Conference record to 8-3, giving them sole possession of second place behind undefeated Arkansas Tech University.
The team hosted Northwestern Oklahoma State University on Thursday, Jan. 28, but results were not available at press time.
The Lady Bisons play Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) in the Rhodes-Reaves Fieldhouse tomorrow at 1 p.m. The two played in a highly competitive game earlier this year, so Haney said the team will need to be focused.
“(SWOSU) is a great ball team,” Haney said. “A big key will be our defense and stopping their drives because they have a lot of quick girls who can penetrate. The main thing for us is just playing as a team, because some people have written us off, but we all still believe.”
