SEARCY – The Harding women's basketball team looks for their third straight win Saturday as they host Arkansas-Monticello in Gulf South Conference action in the Rhodes Field House in Searcy, Ark., at 5:30 p.m. The Lady Bisons are currently in third place in the GSC West Division with a 6-5 record.
LAST TIME: When the two teams met earlier this season, senior forward Stacey Owens scored 22 points, hitting 8-of-11 from the field to lead the Lady Bisons past the Cotton Blossoms, 72-52. The Lady Bisons hit 25-of-48 (52.1 percent) shots from the field. It was the highest percentage of the season and it was the first time this season Harding has shot over 50 percent from the field.
COACHES: Harding is coached by Tim Kirby, who enters his fifth season at the helm of the Lady Bisons. Kirby has an 82-55 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.
Arkansas-Monticello is coached by Chris Ratcliff, who enters his fourth season as head coach of the Cotton Blossoms. Ratcliff has compiled a 44-43 record at Arkansas-Monticello.
THE LADY BISONS: Harding (13-10) is coming off a big win over Christian Brothers 73-36 this past Thursday. Christian Brothers' 36 points was one off the school record of 35 vs. Arkansas-Monticello in 2001. The 37-point margin of victory was the largest by the Lady Bisons in series history. The previous high was 24 points in a 75-51 win in 1996. Harding shot 50 percent from the field, hitting 27-of-54 shots. It was the second time this season the Lady Bisons have shot over 50 percent in a game. Harding forced 20 turnovers with 16 steals. The Lady Bisons defense had seven blocks on the night and held the Lady Bucs (14-9, 5-6) to shooting 23.2 percent from the field. Christian Brothers only had 13 made shots in the game, six of them were three-pointers.
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 5.3 a game. Three are offensive rebounds, ranking seventh in the GSC.
Rollins is shooting 50.3 percent from the field to lead the Lady Bisons. She has really come on strong of late, averaging 12.6 points and 6.5 rebounds in GSC play this season. Rollins third on the team in rebounds, averaging 5.2 a game.
The Lady Bisons are averaging 12.3 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 3.1.
St. Clair leads the Lady Bisons, averaging 13.6 points per game, ranking her ninth in the GSC in scoring. Owens is close behind her averaging 13.5 points per game.
THE COTTON BLOSSOMS: Arkansas-Monticello (10-13, 4-7) is coming off a 56-68 loss to Henderson State this past Thursday. Chelsea Johnson led the Cotton Blossoms with 13 points on the night.
Arkansas-Monticello ranks last in the GSC in three-point field goal percentage (25.7). They also rank last in block shots with only 19 on the season. The Cotton Blossoms lead the GSC in offensive rebounds, averaging 15.1 a game.
Nykita Gordon and Erika Brown, Arkansas-Monticello's top two scores, were removed from the team earlier this season. Chelsea Johnson leads the Cotton Blossoms, averaging 8.8 points per game.
SERIES: Arkansas-Monticello leads the series, 19-30. Last season in Searcy, the Lady Bisons fell 89-94 in overtime to the Cotton Blossoms.
