MONTICELLO, Ark. – Harding battled back from a slow start to defeat Arkansas-Monticello 73-63 Thursday at the Steelman Field House.

The Great American Conference victory was Harding's fifth in its last six games and its 15th straight against Arkansas-Monticello. The Lady Bisons, who have won seven straight in Monticello, improved to 15-6 overall and 10-5 in conference. The Blossoms lost their fifth straight and eighth in their last nine games and fell to 5-15 overall and 4-11 in GAC games.

Harding trailed for much of the game but took the lead for good on an Amanda Kearney layup with 4:49 left in the fourth quarter that kickstarted a 13-1 Harding run. During that stretch, Harding held Arkansas-Monticello without a field goal for more than four minutes.

There were six ties in the third quarter, but a late UAM run gave the Blossoms a 50-46 lead entering the fourth.

Arkansas-Monticello shot 61 percent from the field in the first half and led 36-32. Harding rallied after missing its first nine shots to shoot 50 percent the rest of the half and trim a 10-point UAM lead with 3:07 left down to four at the break.

An 11-0 UAM run after Harding opened the scoring with a free throw put the Lady Bisons in a hole from the start. Kearney hit a 3-pointer from the right wing with 4:00 left in the first quarter for Harding's first field goal.

Kearney and Kellie Lampo led Harding with 19 points each. Cheyenne Brown had 13 points and nine rebounds, and Carissa Caples scored 10 points.

Nine Kizzee led Arkansas-Monticello with 15 points.