SEARCY – The Harding women's basketball team plays their final regular season game on the road as they travel to Arkadelphia, Ark., to face Ouachita Baptist at 3 p.m., in Gulf South Conference action. The Lady Bisons look to seal up a berth to GSC Tournament held March 4-7 in Southhaven, Miss.
LAST TIME: When the two teams met earlier this season in Searcy, Senior forward Stacey Owens captured a double-double and ended with 27 points and 11 rebounds as the Harding defeated Ouachita Baptist, 76-62. The Lady Bisons grabbed a staggering 61 rebounds in the contest, tying for second most in Harding history. It was the most rebounds since joining the GSC in 2000 and the most since 1994. Sophomore guard Sierra Rollins also captured a double-double, with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Six Lady Bisons had over five rebounds in the contest.
COACHES: Harding is coached by Tim Kirby, who enters his fifth season at the helm of the Lady Bisons. Kirby has an 84-56 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.
Ouachita Baptist is coached by Garry Crowder, who enters his 13th season as the head coach of the Lady Tigers. Crowder has compiled a 222-163 record at Ouachita Baptist.
THE LADY BISONS: Harding (15-11, 7-6 GSC) is coming off a 65-79 loss to #9 Delta State this past Thursday night. Sophomore Sierra Rollins had a career-high 25 points in the game, hitting 10-of-19 from the field and 5-of-7 from the free throw line. Bailey St. Clair led the Lady Bisons in rebounds (8), assists (5) and steals (3). She also contributed 21 points for the Harding.
The Lady Bisons are averaging 12.9 points off second chance opportunities. Harding averages 13.3 offensive rebounds a game, ranking seventh in the GSC. Bailey St. Clair leads the Lady Bisons in rebounds, averaging 5.7 a game. Three are offensive rebounds, ranking fifth in the GSC.
Rollins is shooting 50.8 percent from the field to lead the Lady Bisons. She has really come on strong of late, averaging 13.2 points and 6.5 rebounds in GSC play this season. Rollins ranks second on the team in rebounds, averaging 5.4 a game.
The Lady Bisons are averaging 11.9 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 leads the team in scoring as they both average 13.8 points per game.
THE LADY TIGERS: Ouachita Baptist (13-13, 5-8 GSC) is coming off an exciting 79-77 win over cross-town rivals Henderson State this past Thursday night. Ouachita Baptist junior Gabby Coleman got possession with just two seconds left, hitting an off-balance fade away 3-pointer in the left corner to defeat the Lady Reddies at the buzzer. The Lady Tigers have won their last two straight games.
Ouachita Baptist leads the GSC in free throw percentage shooting 75.2 from the free throw line.
Coleman leads the Lady Tigers on the season in scoring, averaging 16.5 points per game and 5.4 rebounds per game. Coleman also has 16 blocks for Ouachita Baptist. A'Laeshia Adams isn't far behind Coleman as she averages 15.7 points per game. Adams also has 59 steals on the season to lead the Lady Tigers.
Harding leads the series, 31-23. Last season at Ouachita Baptist, the Lady Bisons lost 104-108. HU also leads the series in Arkadelphia, 13-12.
