Searcy, Ark. – The 19^th-ranked Missouri Southern women's basketball program secured a 68-66 win over Harding today to conclude the MIAA/GAC Challenge inside the Rhodes-Reaves Field House today.
 
Southern (4-0) was led by Lacy Stokes with 26 points going 10-of-18 from the field, 2-of-4 from three to go with eight assists and five rebounds. Layne Skiles was the other Lion to score in double figures notching 10 points going 4-of-5 from the field and 2-of-3 from three to move into seventh in career three's made. Madi Stokes had nine points and eight rebounds in 16 minutes today and had a career-high tying two steals.
 
Harding (0-2), who was receiving votes in both polls, was led by Sage Hawley with 7 points and eight rebounds while having seven turnovers, Jacie Evans (15) and Kendrick Bailey (12) were the other Bisons to score in double figures with Evans securing a team-high nine rebounds and dishing four assists. 
 
The first quarter began like yesterday's game against Henderson State with the Lions jumping out to a 9-0 lead that eventually rose to 14-0 following an Amaya Johns jumper that was assisted by Lacy with 5:44 remaining. From there the Lions would cruise to a 20-9 lead after one quarter with Lacy notching four assists.
 
Coming into the game Skiles was tied with Jacquie Rzeszut (01-03) for eight in career threes made and passed her in the first quarter at 2:12 to then tie Nancy Somers (91-93) for seventh in program history. 
 
In the second quarter the Lions saw Harding tie it up 22-22 with 6:25 before Lacy responded with a jumper in the paint to start a 12-5 run by the Lions capped off by a jumper by Lacy with 3:09 remaining in the half for a 35-26 lead. Harding would battle back to tie it up 35-35 with 33 seconds left by a Kryslyn Jones three with Lacy picking up the assist at 1.2 put the Lions ahead 38-35 at the half.
 
At the half the Lions were winning the battle in three point, field goal and free throw percentages, threes made, rebounds, second chance points, bench points, assists and blocks.
 
Both teams went on a dry spell to begin the third quarter by a Stokes connection (Lacy-to-Madi) at 8:25 made it a five point lead (40-35). Layne would move past Somers and take sole ownership of seventh place in career threes made for the Lions at 5:24 with Lacy picking up the assist and pushed the lead back to double digits 46-36. 
 
Harding cut the lead to five (52-47) heading into the fourth quarter before tying it up 54-54 with 7:39 left. In response the Lions scored on the next three possessions with Madi Stokes making back-to-back layups before getting her second steal of the game and Lacy converting a jumper in the paint for the six point lead (60-54) with 6:05 remaining. 
 
The Bisons got within one, following a three with 1:20 remaining, but the Lions countered by a Lacy Stokes' jumper in the paint on the ensuing possession with 40.3 seconds left. A jumper with 19 seconds left put Harding back to within one but a free throw with 9.1 seconds left was all that was needed to seal fourth straight win for the Lions to begin the season 68-66.
 
As a team the Lions won the battle in field goal percentage (47.3-42.9), three point percentage (42.9-33.3), threes made (9-5), assists (15-10), blocks (3-1), second chance points (13-9), bench points (9-7). For the game it featured four ties but no lead changes with Southern having 38:10 minutes with the lead.
 
With the win it is the 17^th time a season has begun 4-0 in program history and marks the first win over Harding in series history after coming into today winless in the last six encounters. For her career Lacy now has 199 assists to rank 18^th in program record and with her next assist will be the second quickest to 200 career assists with Diane Hoch achieving the feat in only 29 games as a freshman in the 1988-89 season. 
 
Up next for the Lions will be Angelo State in home opener on Nov. 17^th at noon inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center. The Rambelles began their season with a 80-75 win over MSU Denver and are playing Western Colorado today before making the trip to Joplin next week.

The Missouri Southern women's basketball season is presented by People's Bank of Seneca, a proud supporter of Lion Athletics.