Game Notes
No. 19 Harding (6-0, 1-0 GAC) vs. East Central (5-1, 1-1 GAC)
Location: Searcy
When: Thursday
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Coaches: Harding – Tim Kirby (147-87, 9th season); East Central – Emily Holombek (Interim Head Coach)
Live Stats/Live Video – Available on a link at HardingSports.com
Harding
- Harding heads into the game with a 6-0 record for the first time since the 2008-09 season.
- The Lady Bisons were ranked 19th in Division II in this week's coaches' poll. It is the highest the Lady Bisons have been ranked since joining the NCAA in 1997. Harding is one of only 12 teams in the top 25 that is still undefeated.
- Harding's women have only appeared in the top 25 on one other occasion. The Lady Bisons were ranked 24th in 2008 when they started the season with 12 straight victories.
- Harding is coming off a big win over No. 5 Central Missouri last Friday. The Lady Bisons defeated the Jennies 96-67. Harding's win was only the second win against a top five ranked opponent. It was also the most points scored against a ranked opponent.
- Kristen Celsor is leading Harding in scoring, averaging 19.5 points which ranks fourth in the GAC. Celsor has already turned in two 30 point performances including 33 points against Central Missouri. In her last GAC outing, Celsor scored 30 points against Southern Nazarene on Nov. 23. She has also led the Lady Bisons in rebounding in four games this season. Celsor ranks fourth in the GAC in steals, averaging 2.5 a game.
- Junior guard Shana Holmes is averaging 2.2 made 3-pointers a game and is averaging 12.3 points. Junior guard Montana Lewis averages 11.8 points.
- Harding is averaging 41.3 rebounds per game which is nine more than its opponents. Arielle Saunders leads the Lady Bisons on the boards, averaging eight a game which ranks tied for sixth in the GAC. Celsor is close behind her averaging 7.7 a game.
- Harding's newcomer A'ndrea Haney has started in each game at point guard. She is averaging five points and leads the team in assists and ranks fifth in the GAC, averaging 3.8 a game.
- Harding ranks first in the GAC in rebounding defense (32.3 rpg). The Lady Bisons rank second in assists averaging 17.2.
East Central
- East Central is located in Ada, Okla., and has an enrollment of 5,727.
- East Central heads into the game with a 5-1 overall record and a 1-1 GAC record. Their only conference loss came against Henderson State 69-53. The Lady Tigers captured their first GAC win of the season against Ouachita Baptist 63-55.
- Thursday will be East Central's first road conference game of the year.
- The Lady Tigers are coming off a 63-48 non-conference win over St. Gregory's last Monday. Ashley Robison led East Central with 12 points.
- The Lady Tigers are led on the season by Ashley Robison who averages 11.2 points per game and 5.5 rebounds per game.
- East Central is outscoring its opponents by 16.5 points per game which ranks second in the GAC. The Lady Tigers also rank second in the GAC in scoring defense as they only allow their opponents to score 54.2 points.
- East Central ranks first in the GAC in 3-point field goal percentage defense as they only allow its opponents to shoot 25 percent from behind the 3-point line.
- East Central also ranks first in the GAC in rebounding margin as they average 14.2 more rebounds than its opponent. Alycea Price leads the Lady Tigers, averaging 9.2 rebounds per game which ranks second in the GAC.
Series
- The series is tied between the two teams 5-5.
- Harding has won three of the last four games as the teams split last season.
- The Lady Bisons are 4-1 against East Central in Searcy. Harding won last year's meeting 72-51. Kristen Celsor led the Lady Bisons in the game with 16 points. Arielle Saunders and Montana Lewis both grabbed 10 rebounds for Harding.
