Game Notes

No. 3 Harding (25-1, 17-1 GAC) vs. Arkansas Tech (16-8, 12-6 GAC)
Location: Searcy, Ark.
When: Thursday
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Coaches:
Harding – Tim Kirby (166-88, 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 25-1 overall record and a 17-1 GAC record. It is only the second time in school history Harding has won 25 games. The last time Harding won 25 games in a season was in 1996-97 when the Lady Bisons won a school-record 26 games.

- Harding will be looking to extend its home winning streak to 17 games on Saturday. Harding won its 16th straight game last Saturday against Arkansas-Monticello which tied the Harding record of 16. Harding won 16 straight from 1995-96. The Lady Bisons steak dates back to last season.

- The Lady Bisons climbed to No. 3 in the latest USA TODAY Sports Coaches' Poll released on Tuesday. The Lady Bisons are the highest ranked team in the Central Region.  It's the eighth straight week Harding has been ranked in the top 10 and the second straight week ranked in the top five. It was the 13th straight week Harding has been ranked.

- Harding captured the GAC regular season title on Thursday in the 67-69 win over Southern Arkansas. It is the first regular season conference title in Harding women's basketball history.

- Harding stayed at No. 2 in the NCAA Division II Central Region in the latest regional rankings released on Wednesday. It's the second straight week Harding has been in the second spot in the rankings behind No. 1 Emporia State.

- Harding is coming off a 84-54 win against Arkansas-Monticello on Saturday. Kristen Celsor led Harding with 21 points and tied a career-high with 15 rebounds. Celsor also had four assists, three steals and two blocks. Shana Holmes had 13 points, hitting two 3-pointers and Arielle Saunders had 12 points. The Lady Bisons scored 56 of their points in the paint. Harding also scored 28 points off the Cotton Blossoms' 22 turnovers.

- Harding will be looking for its 18 Great American Conference win on Thursday. It would be the most conference wins by a team in a single season since the GAC was formed before the 2011-12 season.

-  Kristen Celsor is leading Harding in scoring, averaging 18.0 points which ranks second in the GAC. Celsor is averaging 19.6 points in GAC action which ranks second.

- Harding is very comfortable at home this season. The Lady Bisons have outscored their opponents by 22.6 points, shot 43.8 percent from the field, shot 36.8 percent from behind the 3-point line and is averaging 43.1 rebounds.

- Arielle Saunders needs 11 rebounds to get to 700 in her career. Kristen Celsor is the only other active Harding player to have over 700 career rebounds (733).

- Harding ranks first in the GAC in assists, averaging 17.8 per game. A'ndrea Haney ranks first in the GAC, averaging 4.1 per game. Arielle Saunders ranks third averaging 3.3.

- Tabitha Haney ranks second in the GAC in 3-point field goal percentage shooting 43.7 percent. Kristen Celsor ranks fifth, shooting 40.5 percent. Shana Holmes ranks tied for seventh in the GAC in 3-pointers made, averaging 2.0 per game.

- The Lady Bisons need five more 3-pointers to break the Harding single season record. The Lady Bisons currently have 212 and the Harding record is 216. It was done twice, first in 2006-07 and then in 2007-08.

- Deshelle Isaac-Boyce needs five rebounds to get to 200 in her career. She would join three other active players (Kristen Celsor, Montana Lewis and Arielle Saunders) with 200 or more rebounds.

- Harding ranks first in the GAC in scoring defense (59.3), scoring margin (+20.3), field goal percentage (44.6), field goal percentage defense (36.8), 3-point field goal percentage (37.8), 3-point field goal pct. Defense (28.3), assists (17.8), turnover margin (+5.54) and assist/turnover ratio (1.4).

- Celsor needs one more 30-point performance to break the Harding record for the most 30-point games in a season. Celsor currently has five and is tied with Kymm Alexander (1990-94) and Angie Dugger (1993-97) for the most in a season. Alexander holds the record for the most in a career with 11. Dugger is second with ten. Celsor has six.

Arkansas Tech

- Arkansas Tech is located in Russellville, Ark., and has an enrollment of 10,089.

- Arkansas Tech heads into the game with a 16-8 overall and 12-6 in the GAC. The Golden Suns are currently in second place in the GAC standings.

- Arkansas Tech has won its last eight games. The Golden Suns are coming off a 79-76 win over Southeastern Oklahoma last Saturday. Anissa Pounds led Arkansas Tech with 27 points, making 13-of-17 free throws.

- Anissa Pounds leads the Golden Suns on the season, averaging 13.4 points. Cara Nieghbors averages 13.2 points.

- Arkansas Tech ranks second in the GAC in scoring margin (11.5), field goal percentage (43.6) and turnover margin (+2.75).

- Jacinda Myers-Sanders ranks second in the GAC in field goal percentage, shooting 59.8 percent.

Series

- Arkansas Tech won the meeting in Searcy last season 50-43. Lauren Crenshaw made three 3-pointers and finished with 17 points for the Lady Bisons. Arielle Saunders had 10 points and 13 rebounds for Harding. Neither team shot well in the game. Harding shot 24.1 percent and Arkansas Tech shot 25.9 percent. Arkansas tech had 51 rebounds in the game.

- Earlier this season in Russellville, Harding won 87-52. Kristen Celsor scored 24 points, making 10-of-14 from the field. Arielle Saunders had 15 points and 11 rebounds. Shana Holmes finished with 13 points. Arkansas Tech was led by Jacinda Myers-Sanders who had 14 points and seven rebounds. The Lady Bisons shot 58.2 percent from the field and 53.3 percent from behind the 3-point line. Harding also outrebounded Arkansas Tech 44-30.