December 18, 2011
SEARCY, Ark. – The Lady Rattlers hit a snag in their two-game winning streak on the road, with a low shooting percentage and turnovers being the stitch that came loose for their 10th loss of the season against Harding University on Sunday.
Coming off of a 20-point victory on Thursday against Southeastern Oklahoma State, St. Mary’s (3-10) saw the other side of the coin Sunday in a 24-point loss of its own, 77-53.
The Bisons (6-2) held the Rattlers to just 21 points in the first half and led by as much as 37 points in the second. St. Mary’s had trouble finding its follow through in the first, shooting 20 percent from the field (6 of 30) but found the net in the second, improving to a 48 field-goal percentage and was outscored by just six by the Bisons, 38-32.
Harding had five Bisons reach double-digit figures in points as well as one double-double, while St. Mary’s had one Rattler reach the mark, senior DeAnna Patterson (Converse, Texas) with 10 points.
Chesney Neely (Fr., Goldthwaite, Texas) went 6 of 7 from the line, adding eight points. Coming off her season-high of 13 points last game, Bria Bell (So., Mesquite, Texas) came hot off the bench to add another eight as well as three rebounds.
The Rattlers’ 32.7 field-goal percentage for the night wasn’t helped by their 18 turnovers against a competitor which knew how to move the ball. Harding had 16 assists for the game and banked 22 points off turnovers.
The Rattlers have a chance to return to a winning note before Heartland Conference play begins, as they come home to face the University of Central Oklahoma on Dec. 30 at Bill Greehey Arena at 5 p.m.