SEARCY – The Harding women's basketball team will play the second of a three game road trip on Thursday as they travel to Alva, Okla., to face Northwestern Oklahoma State at 5:30 p.m., in Great American Conference action. The Lady Bisons head into the game with a 12-6 overall record and an 8-4 GAC record.
Harding had the week off prior to Thursday's game, with a conference bye last Saturday. The Lady Bisons are coming off a 66-56 loss at Southern Nazarene last Thursday. Southern Nazarene (9-9, 6-6 GAC) held Harding to shooting 33.9 percent from the field (20-of-59). SNU also held HU to shooting 3-of-18 from behind the 3-point line. Junior forward Kristen Celsor led the Lady Bisons with 18 points and had a game-high 11 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the season.
When the two teams met in Searcy earlier this season, HU won 60-46. Sophomore guard Montana Lewis led Harding with 11 points and sophomore forward Arielle Saunders had 10 points. Junior forward Kristen Celsor led the Lady Bisons on the boards, grabbing a career-high 15. Harding held NWOSU to shooting 28.0 percent from the field (14-of-50) and 23.1 percent from behind the 3-point line (3-of-13). HU leads the series 1-0.
Harding is 4-5 on the road this season. Their last road win came at Southern Arkansas on Jan. 17. HU defeated SAU 91-44. The stats between the Lady Bisons and their opponents on the road are very similar. HU is averaging the same points per game as their opponent (62.3), shooting the same percentage from the field (39.3), and averaging the same number of 3-point field goals per game (4.9). The Lady Bisons are 2-3 on the road in conference games. In those five games, HU is shooting 36.8 percent from the field and 20.9 percent from behind the 3-point line.
Harding has won nine of their last 11 games with their losses coming against Arkansas Tech and Southern Nazarene.
HU is led on the season by Kristen Ceslor who averages 14.9 points, which ranks seventh in the GAC. Sophomore guard Shana Holmes ranks ninth in the GAC averaging 13.4 points and Arielle Saunders averages 11.1 points.
Arielle Saunders leads Harding on the boards averaging 8.5 rebounds per game, which ranks fourth in the GAC. Kristen Celsor ranks seventh in the GAC (7.9 rpg) and sophomore guard Montana Lewis ranks eighth in the GAC (7.3 rpg).
The Lady Bisons rank first in the GAC in scoring defense as they only allow their opponents to score 58.5 points per game. HU ranks second in the GAC in field goal percentage defense as they only allow their opponents to shoot 36.3 percent.
Northwestern Oklahoma State heads into Thursday with a 5-13 overall record and a 4-8 GAC record. NWOSU is coming off a 62-56 win at Southern Arkansas last Saturday. It was their first win in their last five games. It was also their first conference win on the road. Northwestern Oklahoma State is not eligible for the 2012-13 GAC Women's Basketball Regular Season Championship or postseason championship tournament due to their provisional membership status with the league.
The Rangers rank second in the GAC (behind Harding) in scoring defense as they only allow their opponents to score 62.8 points per game.
Northwestern Oklahoma State is led by senior guard Renee Golliday who averages 8.7 points per game and 5.9 rebounds. Senior forward Titania Simmons averages 8.2 points.
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