SEARCY – The Harding women's basketball team returns home Saturday to face Ouachita Baptist in Gulf South Conference action at 5:30 p.m., in the Rhodes Field House. The Lady Bisons look to improve on a 9-9 overall record and a 2-4 GSC record.
COACHES: Harding is coached by Tim Kirby, who enters his fifth season at the helm of the Lady Bisons. Kirby has a 78-54 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.
Ouachita Baptist is coached by Garry Crowder, who enters his 13th season as the head coach of the Lady Tigers. Crowder has compiled a 222-163 record at Ouachita Baptist.
THE LADY BISONS: Harding is coming off a 51-77 loss to #6 Delta State this past Thursday. Sophomore Sierra Rollins had a career high and led the Lady Bisons with 20 points in the game.
The Lady Bisons are averaging 13.2 points off second chance opportunities. Harding averages 13.0 offensive rebounds a game. Bailey St. Clair leads the Lady Bisons in rebounds, averaging 5.3 a game. Three of her almost six rebounds a game, are offensive rebounds, ranking fourth in the GSC.
Rollins and Lindsey Root came off the bench earlier this season but the last three games, both players have started. Both players are averaging over five points per game and over three rebounds per game. Rollins is shooting 53.2 percent from the field, which leads the Lady Bisons.
The Lady Bisons are averaging 12.2 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 12.7 points per game. St. Clair also averages 5.3 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 TIGERS: Ouachita Baptist (10-9, 2-4 GSC) is coming off a 76-79 loss to Henderson State this past Thursday. The Lady Tigers have lost their four GSC games by a compiled total of 21 points (5.2 points per game).
The Lady Tigers return nine players from last years squad, three of which were starters. Ouachita Baptist finished fourth last season in the GSC West Division with a 9-5 record. In the preseason GSC coaches' poll, the Lady Tigers were picked to finish second.
Ouachita Baptist leads the GSC in free throw percentage, shooting 73.9 percent from the line which ranks 39th in NCAA Division II. The Lady Tigers rank second in the GSC in three-point field goals made, averaging 6.7 a game.
Gabby Coleman leads the Lady Tigers averaging 16.3 points per game and 5.5 rebounds per game. Coleman ranks fourth in the GSC in scoring. A'Laeshia Adams averages 14.6 points per game.
SERIES: Harding leads the series 30-23. The Lady Bisons are 5-2 in the last seven meetings.
