Game Notes
No. 8 Harding (18-1, 10-1 GAC) vs. Southern Nazarene (8-8, 5-5 GAC)
Location: Searcy
When: Thursday
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Coaches:
Harding – Tim Kirby (159-88, 9th season)
Southern Nazarene – Derek Dorris (29-18, 2nd season)
Live Stats/Live Video – Available on a link at HardingSports.com
Harding
- Harding heads into the game with an 18-1 overall record and a 10-1 GAC record. It's only the second time in school history a Harding team has had a record of 18-1. The 1996-97 team went 25-1 before losing their second game. That team finished the season with a 26-4 record.
- The Lady Bisons will be looking to extend their home winning streak to 12 games on Thursday. Harding has won 11 straight dating back to last season. It's the second longest winning streak at home in school history. Harding won 16 straight from 95-96.
- The Lady Bisons dropped two spots to No. 8 in the latest USA TODAY Sports Coaches' Poll released on Tuesday. The Lady Bisons defeated Arkansas Tech 87-52 Thursday in Russellville, Ark., before suffering a controversial overtime loss at East Central on Saturday 61-60. It's the fourth straight week Harding has been ranked in the top 10.It was the ninth straight week Harding has been ranked.
- Four other top-10 teams lost last week. No. 2 Emporia State fell to Northeastern State 59-44. No. 3 Nova Southeastern fell to Tampa 71-60. No. 8 Central Missouri fell to Lindenwood 65-64. No. 10 Delta State fell to West Florida 65-58.
- Harding is coming off a 61-60 overtime loss at East Central last Saturday. The Lady Bisons were led by junior guard Shana Holmes who had 13 points as she scored eight of her points in overtime. In the game, Harding shot a season-low 35.7 percent from the field (20-of-56) and shot 26.7 percent from behind the 3-point line (4-of-15). It was the second fewest 3-pointers that Harding has made this season. The Lady Bisons only made three in the win against Henderson State earlier this season.
- Kristen Celsor is leading Harding in scoring, averaging 18.1 points which ranks third in the GAC. Celsor is averaging 20.6 points in GAC action which ranks second.
- Kristen Celsor needs six 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 (107). Shana Holmes needs nine to get to 100.
- Kristen Celsor needs 10 rebounds to get to 700 in her career. She would be the only active player to have 700 career rebounds. Celsor is currently ranked eighth at Harding in career rebounds with 690.
- In GAC games this season Kristen Celsor is shooting 50 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 (59.3), scoring margin (+19.6), field goal percentage (44.9), 3-point field goal percentage (38.4), assists (17.2), turnover margin (+4.79) and assist/turnover ratio (1.3).
- 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.
Southern Nazarene
- Southern Nazarene is located in Bethany, Okla., and has an enrollment of 1,702.
- The Crimson Storm headed into the game with an 8-8 overall record and a 5-5 GAC record.
- Southern Nazarene is coming off a 96-83 loss to Southwestern Oklahoma last Thursday. Junior center Aminata Fall led the Crimson Storm with 23 points and 14 rebounds.
- Southern Nazarene is led by senior guard Kristen Milster who ranks fifth in the GAC in scoring, averaging 17.3 points. Aminata Fall is close behind averaging 16.4 points which ranks sixth in the GAC.
- Aminata Fall leads the GAC in rebounding averaging 13.8 rebounds per game. She also leads the GAC in blocks shots averaging 2.5 per game.
- Junior guard Callee Cox ranks first in the GAC in free throw percentage shooting 90.2 percent. As a team, Southern Nazarene ranks first in the GAC in free throw percentage shooting 76.4 percent.
- The Crimson Storm also leads the GAC in blocks shots averaging 5.6 per game.
Series
- The series is tied 2-2.
- Harding won the only meeting in Searcy 78-64 last season. Five Harding players finished in double figures in the game as the Lady Bisons were led by junior forward Arielle Saunders who had 19 points and 11 rebounds.
- Earlier this season in Bethany, Harding won 80-64. Kristen Celsor led Harding with 30 points and 11 rebounds. Junior guard Montana Lewis had 19 points. Callee Cox hit four 3-pointers for Southern Nazarene and finished with 17 points. Katelyn Gorman led the Crimson Storm on the boards with 15. After leading 36-31 at halftime, Harding scored 44 points in the second half. The Lady Bisons forced 13 Crimson Storm turnovers in the half and turned them into 14 points. Harding also scored 38 points in the paint in the game.
