Game Notes

No. 8 Harding (12-0, 4-0 GAC) vs. Henderson State (8-2, 3-1 GAC)
Location: Searcy, Ark.
When: Thursday
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Coaches:
Harding – Tim Kirby (153-87, 9th season)
Henderson State – Jill Thomas (1st season)
Live Stats/Live Video – Available on a link at HardingSports.com
 
Harding
- Harding heads into the game with a 12-0 overall record for the first time since the 2008-09 season. The Lady Bisons will be looking to tie the 1996-97 team for best start in program history on Thursday.

- The Lady Bisons cracked the top 10 in this week's poll as Harding pulled in the eighth ranking. It's the highest Harding has been ranked in the WBCA poll.  The Lady Bisons are one of only seven teams in the top 25 that is still undefeated, five of which rank above Harding.

- Harding is coming off two road wins in Oklahoma. The Lady Bisons got their first win at Southwestern Oklahoma. Harding won 95-69 and then defeated Northwestern Oklahoma 76-75. Senior forward Kristen Celsor averaged 23.5 points in the games as she scored 31 against Southwestern. Junior guard Montana Lewis led Harding against Northwestern with 20 points.

-  Kristen Celsor is leading Harding in scoring, averaging 17.5 points which ranks third in the GAC. Celsor has led Harding in scoring in two of the four GAC games. She scored 30 at Southern Nazarene and 31 at Southwestern Oklahoma. Celsor is averaging 23.3 points in GAC action which ranks second.

- Shana Holmes is averaging 2.2 made 3-pointers a game and is averaging 13.9 points. As a team, Harding ranks second in GAC in 3-pointers made a game with averaging nine.

- Harding is averaging 41.5 rebounds per game which is 8.5 more than its opponents. Arielle Saunders leads the Lady Bisons on the boards, averaging 8.3 a game which ranks third in the GAC. Celsor averages 6.3 and Lewis averages 5.8.

- Harding's career blocks leader, Saunders, ranks second in the GAC averaging 1.3 a game.

- It will be the first time Harding has played a home game in 27 days. The Lady Bisons defeated Central Baptist 86-49 on Dec. 13.

- Junior guard Tabitha Haney is the only active Harding player that has hit over 100 career 3-pointers. Haney has hit 103 career 3-pointers. She reached the mark against Southwestern Oklahoma when she hit three 3-pointers. Other Harding players that are close to the mark are Celsor who has made 85 and Holmes who has made 79.

- Harding ranks third in the GAC in steals with an 11.1 average. Four Lady Bisons rank in the top 10 in the GAC. Freshman guard A'ndrea Haney and senior guard Deshelle Isaac-Boyce both average 2.1 a game. Celsor averages 2.0 and Holmes averages 1.8.

- Harding ranks first in the GAC in scoring defense (58.2), scoring margin (+21.3), field goal percentage (45.0), rebounding defense (33.8 rpg), assists (17.4) and assist/turnover ratio (1.3).

Henderson State

- Henderson State is located in Arkadelphia, Ark., and has an enrollment of 3,363.

- Henderson State heads into the game with an 8-2 overall record and a 3-1 GAC record. The Lady Reddies have won their last six games. Their only losses came at Pittsburg State (76-56) and at Southwestern Oklahoma (78-62).

- Henderson State is coming off a 71-86 win against Southern Nazarene last Thursday. Aungelique Sledge scored 36 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in the game to earn GAC Player of the Week honors.

- It will be the first time this season Henderson State has played a ranked opponent.

- Junior guard Aungelique Sledge is averaging 24.5 points in GAC games which ranks first. She also ranks first in the GAC in overall scoring averaging 21.8 points. She has led Henderson State in scoring seven times this season.

- Sledge also ranks first in the GAC in steals and 3-point field goals, averaging 3.5 in each category.

Series

- The series is tied at 23 apiece.

- Harding leads the series in Searcy 14-9. The Lady Bisons have won the last seven meetings in Searcy.

- Last season in Searcy, Harding won 76-69 in overtime. Celsor led all scoring in the game with 23 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Celsor made two free throws with one second remaining to force overtime. Harding outscored Henderson State 12-5 in overtime. Also in the game, Harding forced 21 Henderson State turnovers on 11 steals. The Lady Reddies outrebounded Harding 47-38.