SEARCY – The Harding women's basketball team looks for their first Gulf South Conference road victory Thursday, traveling to Magnolia, Ark., to face Southern Arkansas at 5:30 p.m. Harding heads into the game with an 8-5 overall record and 1-0 in the GSC West Division.
COACHES: Harding is coached by Tim Kirby, who enters his fifth season at the helm of the Lady Bisons. Kirby has a 77-50 career record. Kirby took over the Lady Bison program before the 2005-06 season after serving 12 seasons as the Harding's men's basketball assistant.
Southern Arkansas is coached by Sam Biley, who enters his 15th season as the head coach of the Lady Muleriders. Biley has compiled a 136-234 record at SAU.
THE LADY BISONS: Harding is coming off a 76-75 victory over Henderson State this past Saturday night. Junior Danielle Reiher hit two free throws with 0.8 seconds left on the clock to give Harding their first GSC win of the season. Harding attempted 46 free throws in the contest and made 29, tying for tenth most made in a game.
The Harding bench has really contributed this season, averaging 29.1 points per game for the Lady Bisons. Sophomores Sierra Rollins and Lindsey Root have come off the bench this season and giving the Lady Bisons a boost. Both players are averaging over five points per game and over three rebounds per game.
The Lady Bisons are averaging 12.8 steals per game, ranking them second in the GSC and 23rd in the NCAA. Junior guard Bailey St. Clair leads the GSC in steals per game with an average of 3.3.
St. Clair leads the Lady Bisons, averaging 13.5 points per game which ranks her ninth in the GSC. She also averages 6.1 rebounds per game. St. Clair is shooting a team high 50.0 percent from the floor, which is ninth in the GSC. Senior Stacey Owens isn't far behind St. Clair, averaging 13.0 points per game.
Harding returns five players from the 2008-09 season. The Lady Bisons have eight new faces this year, four of them are transfers. Six of the Harding newcomers have already made their debut for the Lady Bisons.
THE LADY MULERIDERS: Southern Arkansas (5-8) is coming off a 75-52 loss to #16 Arkansas Tech this past Saturday night in GSC action. Junior Cha'Kia Lee had a double-double for the Lady Muleriders, ending with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Southern Arkansas looks to snap a four game losing streak. In the first half of this season, the Lady Muleriders went 2-5 against GSC East Division teams. They defeated Alabama-Huntsville and West Alabama.
The Lady Muleriders return five players from last years squad and return three starters. Last season, SAU finished with a 8-19 overall record and were 2-12 GSC West Division, finishing 8th.
The Lady Muleriders are led by sophomore Kmaria Hobbs who averages 19.7 points per game and 7.6 rebounds per game. Lee is the other player who averages double-figures, averaging 13.8 points per game and 7.2 rebounds per game. Sophomore Shenelda Levingston leads the Lady Muleriders on the boards, averaging 8.5 rebounds per game. SAU averages 40.8 rebounds per game, ranking them third in the GSC.
SERIES: Harding leads the series 29-19. The Lady Bisons have won their last four games against the Lady Muleriders. Between the two teams in Magnolia, the series is tied 12-12.
