No. 15 Harding (3-0) vs. Southwestern Oklahoma (0-1)
Location: Searcy, Ark.
When: Saturday
Time: 1 p.m.
Coaches:
Harding – Tim Kirby (173-90, 10th season)
Southwestern Oklahoma – Kelsi Musick (78-65, 6th season)
Live Stats/Live Video – Available on a link at HardingSports.com
Harding
- Harding heads into Saturday's contest with a 3-0 record for the second straight year. The Lady Bisons defeated Christian Brothers 72-56, Cameron 115-84 and No. 22 Delta State 65-40.
- In conference openers Harding is 15-13 (.535) and 8-7 when they open at home. The Lady Bisons have won all three GAC openers. Last season Harding defeated Southern Nazarene 80-64 in Bethany, Okla.
- In Harding's win over No. 22 Delta State the Lady Bisons were led by sophomore guard A'ndrea Haney who had 12 points and four assists. Senior forward Arielle Saunders had 11 points and grabbed a game-high seven rebounds.
- Harding is led on the season by Saunders who averages 14.3 points and ranks third in the GAC in rebounds averaging 11.3 per game. Three other Lady Bisons average over 10 points per game – Correy Moyer averages 13.0 points, senior forward Montana Lewis averages 10.7 points and A'ndrea Haney averages 10.0 points.
- The Lady Bisons rank first in the GAC in 3-point field goal percentage (43.3) and ranks second in 3-point field goals made (9.7). Harding ranks third in the GAC in scoring offense (83.3) and scoring margin (+23.3)
- Harding is averaging 30 points from its bench this season. Redshirt forward Mackenzie McNamara is coming off the bench and is averaging 9.3 points. She also leads the GAC in field goal percentage, shooting 81.8 percent from the field.
- The Lady Bisons are averaging 34.0 points in the paint this season. Harding scored 54 of its school record 115 points against Cameron in the paint.
- The Lady Bisons are averaging 17.7 more rebounds than their opponent this season. Harding has grabbed at least 39 rebounds in each game this season. The Lady Bisons had 60 against Cameron.
- Arielle Saunders is 10 rebounds away from 800 in her career. She currently ranks seventh at Harding with 790 rebounds but needs six more to move into sixth place and pass Heather Lawrence (1999-03).
Southwestern Oklahoma
- Southwestern Oklahoma is located in Weatherford, Oklahoma and has an enrollment of 4,845.
- It will also be the conference opener for the Lady Bulldogs. Southwestern Oklahoma opened its season at Arkansas-Fort Smith on Thursday with an 83-73 win. Chelsea Bates had 25 points and 11 rebounds for the Lady Bulldogs.
- Southwestern Oklahoma is coming off a 19-11 record last season and a finished third in the GAC standings with a 13-7 record.
- The Lady Bulldogs are coached by Kelsi Musick who returns for her sixth season as head coach. She has compiled a 78-65 record at Southwestern Oklahoma.
Series
- Southwestern Oklahoma leads the series 9-7.
- Harding won both regular season meetings last season before falling to the Lady Bulldogs 78-74 in the GAC Tournament Championship. Arielle Saunders averaged 10.3 points and 14.3 rebounds against Southwestern Oklahoma last season.
