SEARCY – The Harding women's basketball team travels to Cleveland, Miss, on Thursday to take on #6 Delta State in Gulf South Conference play. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. Harding heads into the game with a 9-8 overall record and a 2-3 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 78-53 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.
Delta State is coached by Sandra Rushing, who enters her ninth season as the head coach of the Lady Statesmen. Rushing has compiled a 177-43 record at Delta State
THE LADY BISONS: Harding is coming off an impressive 72-52 win over Arkansas-Monticello this past Saturday. The Lady Bisons hit 25-of-48 (52.1 percent) shots from the field. It was the highest percentage of the season and it was the first time this season Harding has shot over 50 percent from the field. Senior forward Stacey Owens scored 22 points, hitting 8-of-11 from the field. The Harding defense held Arkansas-Monticello to 25 percent shooting from the field. It was the fourth time this season the Lady Bisons have held an opponent to shooting under 30 percent from the field.
The Lady Bisons are averaging 13.2 points off second chance opportunities. Harding averages 13.5 offensive rebounds a game. Bailey St. Clair leads the Lady Bisons in rebounds, averaging 5.8 a game. Three of her almost six rebounds a game, are offensive rebounds, ranking fourth in the GSC.
Sophomores Sierra Rollins and Lindsey Root came off the bench earlier this season but the last two games, both players have started. Both players are averaging over five points per game and over three rebounds per game. Rollins and Root are both shooting 50 percent from the field.
The Lady Bisons are averaging 12.6 steals per game, ranking them second in the GSC and 21st in the NCAA. St. Clair leads the GSC in steals per game with an average of 3.1.
St. Clair and Owens lead the Lady Bisons, averaging 13.1 points per game. St. Clair also averages 5.5 rebounds 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 STATESMEN: Delta State (15-1, 4-1 GSC) is coming off a 47-56 loss to Arkansas Tech this past Saturday. It was the first loss of the season for the Lady Statesmen. Veronica Walker had a double-double performance, with 28 points and 18 rebounds.
The Lady Statesmen return seven players from last years squad, three of which were starters. Delta State finished first in the GSC West Division with a 13-1 record and went on to win the GSC in the conference tournament. They are picked to finish first again this year in the preseason GSC Coaches poll.
The Lady Statesmen lead the GSC in scoring defense, giving up an average of only 52.1 points per game, which ranks fourth in the NCAA Division II. They also rank second in scoring margin, beating their opponents by an average of 18.6 points per game, which ranks 12th in the NCAA Division II. Delta State ranked second in field goal percentage, shooting 47 percent from the field, ranking them 11th in the NCAA Division II. The Lady Statesmen lead the GSC in field goal percentage defense, only allowing their opponents to shooting 34.8 percent from the field.
Delta State is led by Walker who averages 18.4 points per game and 8.3 rebounds per game. Bug Cooper averages 8.1 assists per game, ranking first in the GSC.
SERIES: Delta State leads the series 17-2.
