SEARCY – The Harding women's basketball team takes the court Thursday as the host Lambuth at 5:30 p.m., at the Rhodes Field House. The Lady Bisons head into the game with a 1-0 record.
ON THE WEB: Live statistics, live audio and live video will be available for the Harding-Lambuth game. Just go to HardingSports.com and follow the links. Live stats are presented by the Harding Sports Information Office, live audio is courtesy KVHU 95.3-FM, and live video is brought to you by Harding's department of communications.
HARDING'S PROBABLE STARTERS
G – Brittany Gottsponer (5-6, SR)
G – Sierra Rollins (5-10, JR)
G – Bailey St. Clair (5-9, SR)
F – Danielle Reiher (5-11, SR)
F – Cherilyn McMenamy (6-0, JR)
THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW
1. Harding is coached by Tim Kirby, who is in his sixth season as head coach of the Lady Bisons. Kirby has an 87-57 record in his first five seasons. David Walker is in his first season as Harding's assistant women's basketball coach.
2. Harding returns three starters and seven letter-winners off last season's team that finished 17-12 overall and 8-6 and in third place in the Gulf South Conference West Division.
3. Harding defeated Central Baptist this past Monday night in the season opener 81-46. Junior forward Cherilyn McMenamy led the Lady Bisons with 21 points.
4. Harding was picked to finish fourth of eight teams in the GSC West Division Preseason Poll. The top four teams in each division advance to the GSC Tournament in Southaven, Miss., in March.
5. Lambuth is an independent member of the NAIA and in the process of making the jump to NCAA Division II. The Lady Eagles are 0-1 on the season after falling at home to Kentucky Wesleyan, 69-47.
6. The series between the two teams is tied 1-1. The last meeting was in 1991 in Searcy. Harding defeated Lambuth 100-75.
7. Harding junior Sierra Rollins had five steals against Central Baptist. The Lady Bisons had 24 steals in the game, the second-most ever at Harding, trailing only the 27 steals against Arkansas Baptist in 2004.
8. In non-conference home games, Harding has won their last 25 games. The last non-conference home loss came against Alabama-Huntsville in 2005 as the Lady Bisons fell 67-61.
9. Harding will take a long road trip next Monday as they travel to Benedict in Columbia, South Carolina. Benedict is a member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference which is one of the three conferences that make up the NCAA South Region (GSC and Sunshine State Conference are the other two members of the region). Regional rankings help decide what teams will make the postseason.
