No. 15 Harding (8-0) vs. Notre Dame (Ohio) (5-1) Dec. 17 at 12:30 a.m. CT
Harding vs. Lake Superior State (1-7) Dec. 18 at 12:30 a.m. CT
Location: Oahu, Hawaii
Coaches: Harding – Tim Kirby (149-87, 9th season);
Notre Dame (Ohio) – Katie Hine
Lake Superior State – Shannon Eggers
Live Stats – Available on a link at HardingSports.com
Harding
- Harding will be looking for its third and fourth wins in Hawaii. It's the third time the Lady Bisons have played in Hawaii. Harding participated in the Hoop-N-Surf Classic in Honolulu in 2004 but dropped both games. The Lady Bisons fell to Northwest Missouri 85-52 and Southern Illinois-Edwardsville 69-61. Harding's last wins came in 2008 against Chaminade (83-65) and Hawaii Pacific (79-77).
- Harding heads into the game with an 8-0 record for the first time since the 2008-09 season.
- The Lady Bisons are ranked 15th in Division in last week's poll. The latest poll will come out on Tuesday.
- Harding is coming off an 86-49 non-conference win over Central Baptist last Friday at the Rhodes Field House. Junior guard Shana Holmes led the Lady Bisons in the game with 21 points. It was the second straight game she has led Harding in scoring and has scored over 20 points. Holmes scored a career-high 22 against East Central on Dec. 5.
- Kristen Celsor is leading Harding in scoring, averaging 17.8 points which ranks fourth in the GAC. Celsor has already turned in two 30 point performances including 33 points against then ranked No. 5 Central Missouri. She has also led the Lady Bisons in rebounding in four games this season. Celsor ranks third in the GAC in steals, averaging 2.3 a game.
- Shana Holmes is averaging 2.3 made 3-pointers a game and is averaging 14.6 points. Junior guard Montana Lewis averages 10.1 points.
- Harding is averaging 42.0 rebounds per game which is 8.9 more than its opponents. Arielle Saunders leads the Lady Bisons on the boards, averaging 8.3 a game which ranks fourth in the GAC. Celsor averages 6.6 a game.
- Harding ranks first in the GAC in rebounding defense (33.1 rpg). The Lady Bisons rank second in assists (18.1 apg), rebounding margin (+8.9), scoring defense (56.8) and scoring margin (+20.9).
- Harding is 6-0 against non-conference opponents this season. In those games, Harding is averaging 19.2 more points than their opponent, shooting 44.3 percent from the field, averaging over eight 3-pointers made a game, averaging 11 more rebounds than their opponent and 10.7 steals.
Notre Dame (Ohio)
- Notre Dame is located in South Euclid, Ohio, is a NCAA Division II member of the Mountain East Conference (MEC) and has an enrollment of 1,848.
- Notre Dame heads into the classic with a 5-1 record and have won its last three games. The Falcons only loss came against Virginia-Wise in MEC action.
- Notre Dame is averaging 78.3 points per game and averaging 47.8 rebounds a game which is 11 more than its opponent.
- The Falcons have only played two non-conference games this season.
- Notre Dame is coming off a 72-55 exhibition loss to Ohio on Saturday. It was the Falcons only exhibition game.
- Notre Dame is led by sophomore guard Martha Nagbe who averages 21.3 points which ranks 19th in Division II. She also averages seven rebounds. Senior center Erin Entinghe averages 11.2 points and leads the team in rebounds averaging 7.8 a game.
- Notre Dame is coached by Katie Hine who is in her third season at the helm. She holds a 29-25 record at Notre Dame.
Lake Superior State
- Lake Superior State is located in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, is a NCAA Division II member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletics Conference (GLIAC) and has an enrollment of 2,523.
- Lake Superior State heads into the tournament with a 1-7 overall record.
- The Lakers are coming off a 76-69 loss in overtime at Walsh in GLIAC action. Lake Superior State's only win came at Malone 73-71 in conference action.
- The Lakers are led by junior guard Stephanie Fisher who averages 13 points. Junior guard Kandace Crittendon averages 11 points and 5.6 rebounds. Senior center Laura Vanes leads the team in rebounds averaging eight a game.
- Lake Superior State is coached by Shannon Eggers who is in her second season at the helm.
Series
- It will be the first time Harding has played either team.
