Game Notes
No. 6 Harding (17-0, 9-0 GAC) at Arkansas Tech (8-6, 4-4 GAC)
Location: Russellville, Ark.
When: Thursday
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Coaches:
Harding – Tim Kirby (158-87, 9th season)
Arkansas Tech – Dave Wilbers (7th season)
Live Stats/Live Video – Available on a link at HardingSports.com
Harding
- Harding heads into the game with a 17-0 overall record and will be looking to continue its best start in program history on Thursday. The previous record was held by the 1996-97 team as they opened the season 13-0.
- The Lady Bisons will be looking for their 10th Great American Conference win on Thursday. If Harding wins, it will be the second straight year the Lady Bisons have won 10 conference games which are the only times Harding has won 10 or more conference games since joining the NCAA in 1997.
- Harding will also be looking to continue its road winning streak which the Lady Bisons set last Saturday at Arkansas-Monticello. The previous record of six was done two times from 1996-97.
- Despite a 3-0 record last week the Lady Bisons stayed at No. 6 in the latest poll. It's the highest Harding has been ranked in the WBCA poll. The Lady Bisons are one of only five teams in the top 25 that is still undefeated, as all five are in the top 6 in the poll. It was the eighth straight week Harding has been ranked.
- Harding is coming off a 73-64 win at Arkansas-Monticello last Saturday. The Lady Bisons fought off a late Cotton Blossoms comeback as Harding led by as much as 17. Senior forward Kristen Celsor led the Lady Bisons with 16 points and 11 rebounds for her third straight double-double. Junior guard Shana Holmes hit three 3-pointers and finished with 17 points.
- Kristen Celsor is leading Harding in scoring, averaging 18.4 points which ranks third in the GAC. Celsor is averaging 21.7 points in GAC action which ranks second.
- Kristen Celsor needs 10 buckets to get to 500 career field goals made. She also needs eight 3-pointers to get to 100 in her career. Junior guard Tabitha Haney is the only active Harding player that has made over 100 career 3-pointers (106). Shana Holmes needs 12 to get to 100.
- Harding is outscoring its GAC opponents by 18.0 points which ranks first. It is 12.2 more points than Southwestern Oklahoma who is in second place.
- Freshman guard A'ndrea Haney ranks first in the GAC in assists in conference games averaging four per game. She has had over five assists in a game seven times this season. As a team, Harding ranks first in the GAC in assists, averaging 17.7 per game.
- In GAC games this season Kristen Celsor is shooting 51.6 percent from behind the 3-point line which ranks first in the GAC. As a team, Harding ranks first in conference games, shooting 40.1 percent.
- Harding ranks first in the GAC in scoring defense (59.6), scoring margin (+19.9), field goal percentage (44.7), 3-point field goal percentage (38.3), assists (17.7), turnover margin (+5.18) and assist/turnover ratio (1.4).
- Celsor needs one more 30-point performance to tie the Harding record for the most 30-point games in a season. Celsor currently has four this season and five in her career. Kymm Alexander (1990-94) and Angie Dugger (1993-97) hold the record for the most in a season with five. Alexander also holds the record for the most in a career with 11. Dugger is second with ten.
Arkansas Tech
- Arkansas Tech is located in Russellville, Ark., and has an enrollment of 11,369.
- Arkansas Tech heads into the game with an 8-6 overall record and a 4-4 GAC record.
- The Golden Suns have won their last two games, beating Southern Arkansas (59-42) and Arkansas-Monticello (78-62). Junior forward Jacinda Myers-Sanders led Arkansas Tech in both games scoring 19 against Arkansas-Monticello and 14 against Southern Arkansas.
- It will be the third time this season Arkansas Tech has faced a ranked opponent. The Golden suns fell in both games. Arkansas Tech fell to then ranked No. 5 Central Missouri 82-68 and 16th ranked Rollins 67-55.
- The Golden Suns are 5-2 at home this season. Their only conference loss at home came against Ouachita Baptist 72-60.
- Arkansas Tech is led by freshman guard Anissa Pounds who averages 13.7 points and sophomore guard Cara Neighbors who averages 13.2 points.
Series
- Arkansas Tech leads the series 52-3.
- The Golden Suns have won the last three meetings
- Arkansas Tech holds the record in Russellville, 28-1. Harding's only win came in 2012 as the Lady Bisons won 77-69 as the Golden Suns were ranked No. 14.
