SEARCY – The Harding women's basketball team looks for their first Gulf South Conference win on Thursday as they travel to Magnola, Ark., to face Southern Arkansas. Tip-off is at 5:30 p.m.
ON THE WEB: Live statistics, will be available on muleriderathletics.com.
HARDING'S PROBABLE STARTERS
NOTES FOR THE GAME
Harding enters the game with a 9-4 overall record and a 0-1 GSC West Division record after falling to Ouachita Baptist last Saturday in GSC action.
Junior guard Sierra Rollins leads the Lady Bisons, averaging 12.1 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. Senior guard Bailey St. Clair isn't far behind her averaging 10.9 points and 3.6 steals per game.
Harding ranks in the top 10 in the NCAA Division II in three categories: scoring defense, field-goal percentage defense and steals per game. The Lady Bisons rank eighth in scoring defense (52.4 pointers per game). Harding ranks second in field-goal percentage defense (32.3) and ranks sixth in steals per game (14.8).
Harding ranks first in the GSC in field-goal percentage defense and in steals. The Lady Bisons are averaging 14.8 steals per game. Leading the way is senior guard Bailey St. Clair who averages 3.7 a game.
Harding is averaging 12.3 assists per game. In all four losses this season, the Lady Bisons didn't reach double-digits.
HU is averaging 41.5 rebounds per game, seven more a game than their opponent, ranking them third in the GSC. Of the 41.5 rebounds per game, 19 are offensive rebounds. The Lady Bisons are averaging 13.9 points on second chance opportunities.
Harding is coached by Tim Kirby, who is in his 6th season as head coach of the Lady Bisons. Kirby has compiled a 95-61 record at Harding.
Southern Arkansas
Southern Arkansas heads into the game with a 1-10 overall record and 0-1 in the GSC West Division. Their only win came at Lambuth earlier this season. In non-conference action, the Lady Muleriders went 0-4 against GSC East Division teams. SAU fell to Delta State 76-50 to open GSC action last Saturday.
Southern Arkansas has three players that average double-figure scoring; leading the way is Cha'Kia Lee who averages 16.9 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. Kmaria Hobbs averages 10.6 points and Goldie White averages 10.4 points per game.
Harding has won five of the last six meetings between the two teams and leads the series 30-20. Last season, the Lady Bisons fell to the Lady Muleriders 59-58 in Magnolia.
