SEARCY – The Harding women's basketball team opens Great American Conference play on Saturday as they host Southern Nazarene at 2 p.m., at the Rhodes Field House. The Lady Bisons head into the game with a 2-2 record.

Since joining the NCAA in the 1997, Harding is 9-6 in conference openers. HU won their GAC opener last season against Southern Arkansas 71-37. It's the fourth straight year the Lady Bisons have opened conference play at home.

Harding is coming off a three game road trip. The Lady Bisons defeated St. Edward's 74-61 but fell to St. Mary's 78-58 and Central Missouri 78-62. In the three games, HU was led by sophomore guard Shana Holmes who averages 14.7 points a game. She led HU against St. Mary's with a career-high 23 points and against St. Edward's with 15 points. St. Mary's in located in San Antonio, Texas, the home of Holmes. 

On the season, Holmes is averaging 15.3 points, which leads the Lady Bisons and is shooting 50 percent from the field. Fellow starter Tabitha Haney is also shooting 50 percent from the field.

Sophomore forward Arielle Saunders leads Harding on the boards averaging 6.3 rebounds per game. Saunders also leads the Lady Bisons in blocks with five.

Other GAC teams opened conference on Thursday, including Southern Nazarene. The Crimson Storm fell at Arkansas Tech 81-61. Harding had a bye.

Southern Nazarene heads into the game with a 3-3 record. The Crimson Storm is in their first season in the GAC. Senior guard Aumoul Thiam leads the GAC with 26.0 points per game. Thiam scored 29 against Arkansas Tech, hitting five 3-pointers and going 8-of-10 from the free throw line.

The two teams are meeting for the second time. In their first meeting, Southern Nazarene defeated Harding 96-53 in 1989 in Bethany, Okla.

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