SEARCY – The Harding women's basketball team looks to snap a two game losing streak Thursday, hosting Christian Brothers in Gulf South Conference action. The Lady Bisons head into the game with a 8-7 overall record and 1-2 GSC West Division record.
COACHES: Harding is coached by Tim Kirby, who enters his fifth season at the helm of the Lady Bisons. Kirby has a 77-52 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.
Christian Brothers is coached by Scott Groninger, who enters his sixth season as head coach of the Lady Bucs. Groninger has compiled a 63-73 overall record at CBU.
THE LADY BISONS: Harding is coming off a 68-95 loss to #13 Arkansas Tech this past Saturday night. The Golden Suns shot 58.2 percent from the field and made ten three-pointers in the contest.
Stacey Owens looks for her 600th rebound Thursday. Owens currently sits at 599 in her career. If she grabs the rebound, Owens will become only the sixth player in Harding history to have over 1,000 points and over 600 rebounds.
The Harding bench has really contributed this season, averaging 27.7 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. Rollins and Root are 1 and 2 on the team in field goal percentage. Rollins leads the team, shooting 52.9 from the field.
The Lady Bisons are averaging 12.9 steals per game, ranking them second in the GSC and 20th in the NCAA. Junior guard Bailey St. Clair leads the GSC in steals per game with an average of 3.1.
St. Clair leads the Lady Bisons, averaging 13.7 points per game which ranks her ninth in the GSC. She also averages 5.8 rebounds per game. Senior Stacey Owens isn't far behind St. Clair, averaging 12.7 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 BUCS: Christian Brothers (10-5, 1-2 GSC) is coming off a 45-72 loss to Delta State this past Saturday night. The Lady Bucs other conference loss came against Arkansas-Monticello, 44-69. Christian Brothers picked up their only conference win of the season defeating Ouachita Baptist, 65-62.
The Lady Bucs are averaging 4.2 blocks a game, ranking them first in the GSC and 38th in NCAA Division II. Jasmine Ellis leads the team with 38 on the season, averaging 2.5 blocks a game, ranking her second in the GSC and 11th in NCAA Division II.
The Lady Bucs return three players from last years squad, including one starter. Christian Brothers finished sixth in the GSC West Division with a 4-10 record.
Christian Brothers has four players that are averaging double-figure scoring. Leading the way is Tameka Wooten who averages 14.9 points per game. Normanique Johnson is second on the team, averaging 12.1 points per game. Sheene DeBose averages 11.0 points per game and 7.6 rebounds per game. Jasmine Ellis averages almost a double-double, with 10.7 points per game and 9.5 rebounds per game.
SERIES: Christian Brothers leads the series 17-15. Harding has won five of the last seven meetings. The Lady Bisons are 12-6 against the Lady Bucs in Searcy.
