SE Rally Falls Short Versus HU

Box Score DURANT, Okla. – Southeastern used a 23-4 run in the second half to rally to within six points after trailing by as many as 26, but was unable to complete the comeback against No. 3 Harding on Saturday afternoon in Bloomer Sullivan Arena, falling 77-64.
 
The loss drops the Savage Storm to 13-13 overall on the season and 10-10 in Great American Conference play.
 
SE will open its GAC Tournament run on March 7 at 8 p.m. as the five seed against fourth seeded Arkansas Tech in Bartlesville, Okla.
 
The contest also served as the final home game for seniors Ronay English and Natalie Ruud.
 
Emily Williams turned in another 20-point effort, her 10^th, finishing with a game-high 29 points on 12-of-22 shooting with a pair of threes.
 
Breana Small-Peppers was the team's only other double-digit scorer with 11 on a 5-of-8 shooting effort.
 
Small-Peppers led the way on the glass with nine rebounds, while Williams was right behind with eight.
 
Small-Peppers also dished out a team-high four assists.
 
The teams were even in the lane with 38 points in the paint each, while Harding held an 18-12 edge in points off turnovers and a 19-18 advantage in second chance points.
 
The first half belonged to HU as the Bisons opened the game on a 17-5 run over the first 6:24.
 
SE would twice get the deficit back to single digits, the last time coming on a Williams layup at the 10:42 mark at 21-12.
 
The Bisons would then finish he half by outscoring the Storm 20-8 to take a 41-20 lead at the half.
 
The second half was better for the home team, despite falling behind by 26 in the early going.
 
A Williams three with 13:49 to play kicked off a 23-4 run that cut the deficit to 60-54 after a pair of Taylor Richards free throws with 6:08 to play.
 
However, HU would answer with four straight points and outscore the Storm 17-10 over the final six minutes to hand SE a 77-64 loss.