The second-longest home winning streak in Arkansas Tech women’s basketball history is over.
Harding University defeated the nationally ninth-ranked Golden Suns 77-69 at Tucker Coliseum in Russellville on Monday night to stop Arkansas Tech’s women’s basketball home winning streak at 42 consecutive games.
It was the Golden Suns’ first home loss since Feb. 21, 2009, and Harding’s first road win over Arkansas Tech ever. The Lady Bisons came into the game 0-26 all-time against the Golden Suns in Russellville.
The loss ended the longest active home winning streak in NCAA Division II women’s basketball.
“We didn’t do a good job defensively in the first half,” said Arkansas Tech head coach Dave Wilbers. “We couldn’t find Kristen Celsor regardless of whether we were in a zone or a man-to-man defense, and we didn’t do a good job of making adjustments.”
Celsor scored 27 points. She was 4-of-6 from 3-point range. Sierra Rollins added 18 points and Tabitha Haney had 13 points for the Lady Bisons (11-5 overall, 4-2 Great American Conference).
Harding led 49-38 at halftime, but Arkansas Tech opened the second half on a 21-8 run. The Suns went in front 59-57 on a Samanta Ludwig layup with 8:37 left.
Neither team led by more than four points over the next six minutes. Haney gave the Lady Bisons the lead for good with a 3-pointer at the 2:46 mark. Her trey, which came after two offensive rebounds, gave Harding a 69-66 edge.
The Golden Suns (11-3, 3-3) only made one field goal the rest of the way, and the Lady Bisons hit 6-of-7 from the free throw line over the final 1:32 to put it away.
Natalia Santos had 24 points for Arkansas Tech. Jessica Weatherford added 17 points and 10 rebounds. Katie Horsman netted 15 points on 5-of-7 shooting from 3-point range.
Weatherford became the 26th Golden Sun to score 1,000 or more career points on a layup with 16:08 left in the first half. She now has 1,014 career points.
The only Golden Suns’ home winning streak longer than the one that was snapped on Thursday night was the 61-game winning streak that Arkansas Tech’s women enjoyed from 1987-91, which remains the school record more than two decades later.
The Golden Suns will host Ouachita Baptist for a 5:30 p.m. GAC game at Tucker Coliseum on Thursday, Jan. 26.
Tickets will be available at the door. Those with a valid Arkansas Tech identification card will be admitted free of charge.
Click here to learn more about Arkansas Tech women’s basketball.
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