SEARCY – The Harding women's basketball team hosts No. 1 Delta State on Saturday in Gulf South Conference action at the Rhodes Field House. It will be the second time since joining the NCAA that the Lady Bisons will face a top-ranked opponent.
DSU was also ranked No. 1 during the 2007-08 season. The Lady Statesmen walked away with a 61-56 win.
ON THE WEB: Live statistics, Live Audio and Free Live Video will be available on hardingsports.com.
HARDING'S PROBABLE STARTERS
NOTES FOR THE GAME
Harding enters the game with a 10-4 overall record and a 1-1 GSC West Division record after defeating Southern Arkansas 78-65 last Thursday night.
Junior guard Sierra Rollins leads the Lady Bisons, averaging 13.8 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. In both GSC games this season, Rollins has captured a double-double. She has four on the season. Senior guard Bailey St. Clair isn't far behind her averaging 11.6 points and 3.7 steals per game. During the two conference games, St. Clair has shot 50 percent from the field and ended with over 20 points.
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 12.8 assists per game. In all four losses this season, the Lady Bisons didn't reach double-digits.
HU is averaging 41.1 rebounds per game, seven more a game than their opponent, ranking them third in the GSC. Of the 41.5 rebounds per game, 16 are offensive rebounds. The Lady Bisons are averaging 13.9 points on second chance opportunities.
During conference play, the Lady Bisons are shooting the ball much better. Harding is shooting 41.4 percent from the field (46-of-111) which is up from non-conference play as the Lady Bisons shot 39.1 percent from the field (274-of-701).
Harding is coached by Tim Kirby, who is in his 6th season as head coach of the Lady Bisons. Kirby has compiled a 96-61 record at Harding.
Delta State
Delta State heads into game with a 14-0 overall record and a 2-0 GSC West Division record. The Lady Statesmen have faced the same two conference opponents as the Lady Bisons. They defeated Southern Arkansas 76-50 and Ouachita Baptist 68-61.
The game will be Delta State's first road game since Dec. 2 when the Lady Statemen traveled to West Alabama.
In their 14 games, Delta State is defeating their opponents by an average of 21.4 points per game which ranks them five in NCAA Division II. The Lady Statesmen also rank in the top 5 in the NCAA Division II in scoring defense (49.1) and field-goal percentage (49.1).
Delta State ranks first in the GSC in rebounding margin grabbing 8.5 more rebounds than their opponent and block shots (4.7)
The Lady Statesmen are led by Veronica Walker who averages 17.7 points per game. In conference action, Walker is averaging 23.0 point per game. She also leads the team in rebounds averaging 9.3 a game. Bug Cooper is averaging 8.1 assists per game, ranking her first in NCAA Division II.
The Series
Delta State leads the series 19-2. Harding's last win against the Lady Statesmen was in Jan. 2005 in Cleveland, Miss.
