Game Notes
SEARCY – The Harding women's basketball team continues Great American Conference action on Thursday as they travel to Ada, Oklahoma to face East Central at 5:30 p.m. The Lady Bisons head into the game with a 3-2 overall record and a 1-0 GAC record.
Harding opened conference play last Saturday in Searcy against Southern Nazarene. The Lady Bisons won 78-64. HU was led by sophomore forward Arielle Saunders who had 19 points and 11 rebounds. Sophomore guard Montana Lewis also captured a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
Sophomore guard Shana Holmes leads HU this season, averaging 14.4 points per game. Arielle Saunders averages 13.2 points and junior forward Kristen Celsor averages 13.0 points.
Harding ranks second in the GAC in field goal percentage (43.0) and 3-point field goal percentage (35.7).
The Lady Bisons are averaging six made 3-pointers a game, which ranks sixth in the GAC. Shana Holmes leads HU with seven.
Harding is getting to the free throw line almost 20 times a game (19.8). Arielle Saunders leads HU with six trips a game, which ranks sixth in the GAC.
The Lady Bisons are 6-9 in conference road openers since joining the NCAA in 1997. HU has won their last two conference road openers. It's the second straight year Harding will play their GAC road opener against East Central. The Lady Bisons defeated the Lady Tigers 65-49.
East Central heads into the contest with a 4-2 overall record and 1-1 GAC record. The Lady Tigers fell to Ouachita Baptist 74-72 in their GAC opener but bounced back to beat Henderson State 63-60. It will be ECU's first GAC home game on Thursday. ECU is 1-1 at home. The Lady Tigers defeated St. Gregory's 69-51 and fell to Southwestern Christian 74-72.
Senior forward Lindsay McCown leads East Central averaging 11.5 points a game. Junior forward Alycea Price is also averaging in double-figures with 11 points per game. Junior forward Ashley Robison is shooting 52.9 percent from behind the 3-point line (9-of-17) and leads ECU on the boards averaging 6.7 rebounds.
East Central leads the GAC in field goal percentage defense (29.1) and 3-point field goal percentage (38.3).
The series is tied between the two teams 4-4. Harding won both meetings last year in the inaugural GAC season. The Lady Bisons defeated ECU in Ada 65-49 and in Searcy 79-44. Before last season, the two teams last met in 2000.
Check Hardingsports.com for live stats and live video links.
