SEARCY – The Harding women's basketball team looks for their second straight win Thursday as they travel to Memphis, Tenn., to take on Christian Brothers in Gulf South Conference action at 5 p.m. Harding heads into the game with a 12-10 overall record and a 5-5 West Division record. The Lady Bisons are currently tied for third with Christian Brothers in the West Division.
LAST TIME: When the two teams met earlier this season, Normanique Johnson hit a three-pointer with seven minutes remaining to give Christian Brothers their first lead of the game. Before the three-pointer, the Lady Bucs battled back from a 14 point deficit. The Lady Bisons came within one point, two times but CBU quickly answered back both times. Christian Brothers hit 4-of-6 free throws down to stretch to seal the win.
COACHES: Harding is coached by Tim Kirby, who enters his fifth season at the helm of the Lady Bisons. Kirby has an 81-55 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.
Christian Brothers is coached by Scott Groninger, who enters his sixth season as head coach of the Lady Bucs. Groninger has compiled a 63-73 overall record at CBU.
THE LADY BISONS: Harding is coming off a 72-63 win over Southern Arkansas this past Saturday night in GSC action. Junior Bailey St. Clair had five steals and broke the Harding single-season steals mark with 66 and led Harding with 20 points in the game.
The Lady Bisons are averaging 13.1 points off second chance opportunities. Harding averages 13.6 offensive rebounds a game, ranking seventh in the GSC. Bailey St. Clair leads the Lady Bisons in rebounds, averaging 5.2 a game. Three are offensive rebounds, ranking seventh in the GSC.
Rollins is shooting 51.4 percent from the field to lead the Lady Bisons. She has really come on strong of late, averaging 13.3 points and 7.0 rebounds in GSC play this season. Rollins leads the team in rebounds, averaging 5.4 a game.
The Lady Bisons are averaging 12.1 steals per game, ranking them second in the GSC and 29th in the NCAA. St. Clair leads the GSC in steals per game with an average of 3.0.
St. Clair leads the Lady Bisons, averaging 13.8 points per game, ranking her ninth in the GSC in scoring. Owens is close behind her averaging 13.4 points per game.
THE LADY BUCS: Christian Brothers (14-8, 5-5) has lost their last three straight games but before that they won four straight including a win against #5 Arkansas Tech 78-72 on Feb. 1.
The Lady Bucs have four players that are averaging double-figure scoring. Christian Brothers is led by Tameka Wooten, who averages 15.8 points per game and ranks third on the team in rebounds per game, averaging 4.7 a game. Sheena DeBose averages 12.2 points per game and is second on the team in rebounds per game, averaging 7.2. Normanique Johnson averages 10.9 points per game and Jasmine Ellis averages 10.5. Ellis leads the team in rebounds a game (9.7) and blocks (44).
SERIES: Christian Brothers leads the series, 18-15.
