SEARCY – The Harding women's basketball team travels to Durant, Oklahoma on Saturday to face Southeastern Oklahoma State at 2 p.m., in Great American Conference action. The Lady Bisons head into the game with a 3-3 overall record and a 1-1 GAC record.
The games will be broadcast live on KVHU 95.3-FM in Searcy with Billy Morgan and Scott Goode on the call. Links to live audio and live stats will be available on HardingSports.com. Due to Harding Academy playing in the Arkansas Football State Championship, the broadcast won't start until after the football game is over.
Harding is coming off a 53-46 loss to East Central on Thursday. Neither team shot well in the game as both teams shot below 30 percent. Sophomore guard Shana Holmes led HU with 18 points.
Holmes has scored in double-figures five out of the last six games and has had over 15 points in four games. She ranks fifth in the GAC in scoring with a 15.0 points per game average.
Sophomore forward Arielle Saunders has led HU around the basket this season. Saunders is tied for sixth in the GAC in rebounds per game averaging 7.8 a game. She had a season-high four blocks against East Central and ranks fourth in the GAC in blocks per game (1.5). Saunders averages 11.7 points per game and has had four double-figure performances this season.
Senior guard Deshelle Isaac-Boyce has been coming off the bench for the Lady Bisons and doing the dirty work. Isaac-Boyce ranks 10th in the GAC in assists (15) and ranks tied for fifth in steals (11).
Southeastern Oklahoma State is 1-6 on the season and is still looking for its first GAC win with a 0-3 record. The Savage Storm's only win came against Oklahoma Christian (91-90). SOSU is coming off an 80-48 loss to Arkansas Tech on Thursday. The Savage Storm's other GAC losses came against Henderson State (77-69) and Ouachita Baptist (81-74). SOSU is allowing their opponent to score 82.9 points per game which ranks last in the GAC.
Southeastern Oklahoma State is led by senior guard Bailey Welch who averages 14.0 points per game, ranking her seventh in the GAC. Sophomore forward Haley Schaefer leads the Savage Storm on the boards, averaging 5.7 rebounds per game. Freshman guard Taylor Richards ranks second in the GAC in assists per game with a 3.7 assists per game average.
SOSU leads the GAC in free throw percentage (76.4). The Savage Storm has been to the foul line more than any other team in the GAC and has made more (152-of-199).
Harding leads the series between the two teams 5-4. Last season HU defeated Southeastern Oklahoma State 60-56 in Searcy but fell in Durant 87-68. Harding is 2-2 in Durant. HU's last win at SOSU was in 2000. Harding won 70-67. The two teams met in the semifinals of the GAC Tournament last season. The Lady Bisons advanced to finals after defeating SOSU 62-54.
Check Hardingsports.com for live stats and live video links.
