by SEARCY, Ark. – The Cameron women’s basketball team lost their third game of the season as they fell 77-55 to Harding on Saturday afternoon; Ava Battese (Comanche/PBPN) had a team high 17 points for the Black and Gold.
Cameron started fast, jumping out to an eight point lead late in the first quarter and held that up as they lead 15-8 after the first 10 minutes of play. Harding responded by quickly cutting the CU lead to just one at the 6:42 mark. After going back and forth, HU took the lead and extended it to six as they lead 32-26 at the break.
Battese led Cameron at the break with nine points, while Parfitt McNair had five as CU shot just 35.7 percent from the field and 2-7 from three. Kennedy Cooper had eight points for Harding at the half, while they shot just 32.1 percent from the field and 16.7 percent from perimeter in the first half.
The Aggies were able to make a small comeback early in the third, cutting the Bison lead to just two at the 7:44 mark. HU then used an 11 point run to jump back on top, this time leading 45-32 with just over three minutes to play in the quarter. They carried their momentum into the fourth quarter and closed out the game with a 22 point advantage, winning 77-55.
Battese was the only CU player to score in double-figures, finishing with 17 points while going 3-9 from three point range. Lejha Smith was one point away from a double-double with nine points and 10 rebounds, while Jamie Bonnarens had nine points as well; Smith also had five blocks in the contest.
Cameron finished the game shooting just 32 percent from the field, hitting on just five of their 18 three point attempts while going 12-16 from the free throw line. They turned the ball over 19 times, but on defense recorded 10 steals and six blocks.
Caroline Hogue led the Bison with 27 points, scoring 18 of those in the second half alone; Cooper finished with 10 points. HU picked up their shooting effort in the final 20 minutes, shooting 41.7 percent from the field, but still struggled from three, going just 2-14; they scored most of their points from the charity stripe, where they went 25-34.
The loss puts Cameron’s record at 2-3 on the young season, while Harding records their second win, as they are now 2-4.
The Aggies will return home for their next contest, as they open up Lone Star Conference play by hosting Texas A&M-Commerce.
