SEARCY – The Harding women's basketball team travels to Pensacola, Fla., on Thursday and Friday as they take part in the West Florida Holiday Classic. The Lady Bisons will face District of Columbia on Thursday at Noon and then face host team West Florida on Friday at 2 p.m.
ON THE WEB: Live video and live statistics will all be available for the game on goargos.com
HARDING'S PROBABLE STARTERS
NOTES FOR THE CLASSIC
Harding enters the game with a 6-3 record after falling to North Alabama 50-46 on Dec. 18. Harding's six wins have all been by 20 points or more. The three losses have been by six points or less.
Junior guard Sierra Rollins leads the Lady Bisons, averaging 10.5 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. Senior guard Bailey St. Clair isn't far behind her averaging 10.4 points and 4.0 steals per game.
Harding ranks in the top 10 in the NCAA Division II in four categories: scoring defense, field-goal percentage defense, steals per game and turnover margin. The Lady Bisons rank third in scoring defense (47.4 pointers per game). The Harding defense also ranks third in field-goal percentage (30.2 percent). The Lady Bisons rank eighth in steals per game (16.1) and rank ninth in turnover margin (8.71).
Harding ranks third in the GSC in steals. The Lady Bisons are averaging 16.1 a game. Leading the way is senior guard Bailey St. Clair who averages 4.0 a game.
Harding is coached by Tim Kirby, who is in his 6th season as head coach of the Lady Bisons. Kirby has compiled a 92-60 record at Harding.
District of Columbia
District of Columbia enters the classic with a 7-4 overall record. The Firebirds are an independent NCAA Division II member.
UDC is coached by Lester Butler, who is in his eighth season at the helm of the Firebirds.
The Firebirds have three players that average over 10 points per game. Leading the way for UDC is senior forward Lillian McGill who averages a double-double with 13.8 points and 13.5 rebounds per game. Junior forward Jamilia Bonner averages 12.0 points per game and junior guard Kendra Johnson averages 10.0 points per game.
Harding and District of Columbia are meeting for the first time.
West Florida
West Florida enters the classic with a 6-5 overall record. The Lady Argonauts are a Gulf South Conference East Division member. Harding will be the third team West Florida has played from the GSC West Division. The Lady Argos fell to Henderson State and Delta State earlier this season.
West Florida is coached by Shannan Bergen who enters her 12th season as head coach of the Lady Argonauts.
West Florida is led by junior forward Octavia Bearden who averages 10.8 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. Senior forward Jessica Young isn't far behind her averaging 10.5 points and 9.2 rebounds per game.
Harding leads the series 3-1. West Florida won the last meeting between the two schools 72-68 in Pensacola last season.
