SEARCY – The Harding women's basketball takes a break from conference action Monday to host North Alabama in their final non-conference game of the season at 5:30 p.m., in the Rhodes Field House in Searcy, Ark. Harding looks for their four straight win and to improve on their overall record of 14-10.
LAST TIME: When the two teams met earlier this season in Florence, Ala., North Alabama came away with a 75-61 victory over Harding. After being tied 34-34 at halftime, the Lady Bisons tried to get some momentum going when senior Stacey Owens hit a three-pointer 30 seconds in the second half. Two quick layups by the Lions turned the table on the Lady Bisons. Harding never saw the lead again as North Alabama ran away. Three Lady Bisons ended in double-figure scoring, leading the way was freshman Elizabeth Nagel who had a career-high 16 points. Nagel was 5-of-9 from the field and 5-of-6 from the free-throw line. Danielle Reiher tied a career-high with 12 points. Owens added 11 points for Harding.
COACHES: Harding is coached by Tim Kirby, who enters his fifth season at the helm of the Lady Bisons. Kirby has an 83-55 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.
North Alabama is coached by Terry Fowler, who enters his four season as the head coach of the Lions. Fowler has compiled a 42-42 record at North Alabama.
THE LADY BISONS: Harding is coming off a 65-51 win over Arkansas-Monticello this past Saturday night in Searcy. Senior Stacey Owens led the Lady Bisons with 19 points in the game. Meaghen Kelleybrew had 12 points and five rebounds for Harding.
The Lady Bisons are averaging 13.0 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 5.5 a game. Three are offensive rebounds, ranking fifth 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 12.2 points and 6.5 rebounds in GSC play this season. Rollins ranks third on the team in rebounds, averaging 5.3 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 3.1.
St. Clair and Owens have both led the Lady Bisons in scoring. Owens leads of late, averaging 13.8 points per game and St. Clair is .3 behind Owens, averaging 13.5 points per game.
THE LIONS: North Alabama (15-12) is coming off a close 62-60 win over West Alabama this past Thursday night. Lacey Lewis drove down the lane and hit a layup with less than a second remaining to give the Lions the win.
North Alabama is a member of the GSC East Division.
Niala Harris leads the Lions, averaging 12.4 points per game. Harris also leads North Alabama in rebounds (6.4), field goals made (111), free throws made (106) and free throw percentage (79.1).
SERIES: Harding leads the series 8-5. Last season in Searcy, the Lady Bisons won in overtime 76-73. Six of the last 13 meetings between the two teams have gone into overtime.
