SEARCY – The Harding women's basketball team host Henderson State Saturday to open Gulf South Conference play at 5:30 p.m., in the Rhodes Field House. The Lady Bisons are 6-5 in Gulf South conference openers.
COACHES: Harding is coached by Tim Kirby, who enters his fifth season at the helm of the Lady Bisons. Kirby has a 76-50 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.
Henderson State is coached by Josh Matthews, who is in his fourth year as the head coach of the Lady Reddies. Matthews has compiled a 44-38 record at Henderson State.
THE LADY BISONS: Harding (7-5) is coming off a long holiday break. They haven't been in action in 19 days. The Lady Bisons last outing came against North Alabama on Dec. 21st. North Alabama snapped a Harding seven game winning streak, as the Lady Bisons fell 75-61.
The Harding bench has really contributed this season, averaging 29.0 points per game for the Lady Bisons. Sophomore Sierra Rollins has come off the bench this season and giving the Lady Bisons a boost of energy. Rollins averages 5.5 points per game, 4.1 rebounds per game and 2.0 steals per game.
The Lady Bisons are averaging 13.3 steals per game, ranking them second in the GSC and 17th in the NCAA. Junior Bailey St. Clair leads the GSC in steals per game with an average of 4.1.
Senior Stacey owens leads the Lady Bisons, averaging 13.4 points per game which ranks her tenth in the GSC. She also averages 4.6 rebounds per game.St. Clair isn't far behind Owens, averaging 13.1 points per game. St. Clair is shooting a team high 52.4 percent from the floor, which is eighth in the GSC.
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 REDDIES: Henderson State (9-6) is coming off a 62-61 loss to West Georgia this past Saturday in Arkadelphia, Ark. Before the loss, the Lady Reddies were on a four game winning streak. In the first half of the season Henderson State is 1-4 against GSC East Division teams. Their only win came against West Alabama as they defeated the Tigers 70-57.
The Lady Reddies only return five players from last years squad. Two of the five are starters. Henderson State finished sixth last season in the GSC with a 4-10 record. They were picked to finish sixth in the preseason GSC coaches poll, behind the Lady Bisons.
The Lady Reddies are led by Danyelle Harris who is averaging 12.4 points per game. Asaiah Lowe leads Henderson State on the boards averaging 6.8 rebounds per game.
SERIES: Henderson State leads the series 21-16. Harding has won the last two meetings in Searcy.
