Box Score MEMPHIS—Junior guard
Tanaeya Worden (Sioux City, Iowa/Sioux City North HS) scored a career-high 33 points to lift the Christian Brothers University Lady Bucs to an 80-79 Gulf South Conference West Division win over Harding Thursday night at Canale Arena.
Worden set the tone quickly for the Lady Bucs (8-9, 1-3 GSC West), knocking down the first of her five three-pointers on the Lady Bucs' second possession. After Harding (13-3, 1-3) led for the first 14 minutes, the Lady Bucs went on a 15-4 run late in the first half to take a 39-30 lead on another Worden basket with 2:31 remaining in the half.
The Lady Bucs extended the lead to 48-36 early in the second half on a
Crystal Shelton (Nashville, Tenn./Hume Fogg) basket, but Harding steadily whittled the lead away, taking a lead of their own at 59-58 on a Leah Fugett layup with 11:02 remaining.
Worden carried the Lady Bucs to victory in the final minutes, making a layup to tie the game at 75 with 1:06 remaining and breaking the tie 31 seconds later with a pull-up jumper just inside the free throw line, giving the Lady Bucs the lead for good.
Erin Nigh (Morristown, Ind./Morristown HS) scored a season-high 14 points as she also set her season high with 33 minutes. Worden added four steals and four assists to her 33 points, which came on 13-of-19 shooting, including 5-of-11 from beyond the arc. She was also 2-of-3 at the free throw line.
Catherine McMenamy led the Lady Bisons with 22 points in 21 minutes off the bench. Ashley Anderson scored 16, while Fugett added 14.
The Lady Bucs survived a sizzling night for the Harding offense, which shot 57.4 percent (27-of-47), including 58.3 percent (7-of-12) from three-point range. The Lady Bucs tied their season high with 12 three-pointers, making 42.9 percent (12-of-28). They were an equal 42.9 percent (27-of-63) overall from the floor.
The teams were even on the boards with 33 each, with CBU holding a 12-4 edge in offensive rebounds. The Lady Bucs finished plus-6 in turnover margin, forcing 16 turnovers while committing just 10.
The Lady Bucs will be back in action Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. as they visit Henderson State.
