SEARCY - The Harding women's basketball team looks for their fifth straight win on Thursday as they travel to Russellville, Ark., to face Arkansas Tech at 5:30 p.m., in Great American Conference action. The Lady Bisons head into the game with a 17-7 overall record and a 13-5 GAC record.
Harding is in third place in the GAC standings. The top eight teams will advance to the postseason conference tournament held in Bartlesville, Okla., on March 7-10.
The Lady Bisons are coming off a 74-63 win at Arkansas-Monticello last Saturday. Sophomore forward Arielle Saunders captured her eighth double-double of the season with 20 points and 12 rebounds to lead HU. Junior forward Kristen Celsor scored 15 of her 18 points in the second half. She was 7-of-10 from the field, including four 3-pointers. She also had three blocks and two steals. Junior guard Lauren Crenshaw made three 3-pointers and had 13 points.
Arkansas Tech defeated Harding 50-43 earlier this season in Searcy. Neither team shot well in the first half. ATU made 8-of-26 and HU made 3-of-26. Arkansas Tech led at halftime 25-13. Junior guard Lauren Crenshaw led HU with 17 points, hitting three 3-pointers. Arielle Saunders had a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds. Both Saunders and Kristen Celsor had four blocks in the game. Arkansas Tech was led by senior guard Roselis Silva who had 14 points and six steals. ATU leads the series 50-3.
Harding is 7-6 on the road this season, 5-4 in the GAC. The Lady Bisons have won their last two road games, at Arkansas-Monticello and at Ouachita Baptist. HU defeated OBU 45-42 on a last second 3-pointer by Lauren Crenshaw. Shana Holmes leads HU on the road, averaging 13.8 points. Kristen Celsor averages 12.6 points and eight rebounds.
Harding has won 14 of their last 17 games with their losses coming against Arkansas Tech, Southern Nazarene and Southwestern Oklahoma State.
HU is led on the season by Kristen Ceslor who averages 15.3 points, which ranks sixth in the GAC. Sophomore guard Shana Holmes averages 12.8 points and Arielle Saunders averages 10.8 points.
Kristen Celsor leads Harding on the boards averaging 8.3 rebounds a game, which ranks fourth in the GAC. Sophomore forward Arielle Saunders ranks fifth in the GAC, averaging 7.8 rebounds and sophomore guard Montana Lewis ranks tenth in the GAC (6.8 rpg).
The Lady Bisons rank first in the GAC in scoring defense as they only allow their opponents to score 58.7 points per game. HU ranks second in the GAC in steals averaging 9.3 a game.
In Harding's 17 wins, the Lady Bisons defense has come up big. HU has held their opponents below 34.2 percent from the field and forces 17.8 turnovers per game. The Lady Bisons also averages 9.5 steals and 4.5 blocks.
Kristen Celsor needs 22 points to get to 1,000 in her career. Celsor has scored 978 points and is averaging 12.1 points per game in her career.
During the four-game winning streak, Harding is shooting 44.9 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from behind the 3-point line. The Lady Bisons are averaging 18.0 assists, 10.3 steals and 5.8 blocks in those four games. Harding is also outscoring their opponents by 19.0 points and averaging 6.5 3-pointers made a game.
Arkansas Tech heads into the game with an 18-6 overall record and a 15-3 GAC record. ATU is first place in the GAC standings. The Golden Suns have won their last six games. Their last loss came at Southern Nazarene 99-80.
Arkansas Tech is coming off an 83-60 win at Southern Arkansas last Saturday. ATU was led by Roselis Silva who had 15 points.
The Golden Suns rank first in the GAC in five categories – scoring margin (10.8), field goals percentage (43.3), rebounding margin (+7.4), steals (11.6) and turnover margin (+2.5). Arkansas Tech ranks second in the GAC in scoring defense (62.1) and 3-point field goal percentage defense (26.8).
ATU is led by senior forward Jessica Weatherford who averages 15.6 points, which ranks fourth in the GAC. Roselis Silva ranks first in the GAC in assists (4.8) and steals (5.5).
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