SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Harding's women's tennis team will compete in the 2014 NCAA Division II Central Region Women's Tennis Tournament on Monday and Tuesday on the campus of Southwest Baptist University.

10 Facts to Know for the Central Region Tournament

1.       Harding is the No. 4 seed in the NCAA II Central Region and will open the tournament against No. 5 seed Arkansas Tech on Monday at 10 a.m.

2.       The winner of the Harding/Arkansas Tech match will play No. 1 seed Southwest Baptist on Tuesday at 10 a.m. with the winner advancing to the NCAA II Women's Tennis Championships in Altamonte Springs, Fla., on May 14-17.

3.       Harding qualified for the Central Region Tournament by earning the Great American Conference's automatic bid. The Lady Bisons defeated Arkansas Tech 5-3 in the final on Apr. 19. Harding also defeated Arkansas Tech 6-3 in Russellville on Apr. 4.

4.       Harding is making its eighth appearance in the NCAA II Tournament and its first in the Central Region. The Lady Bisons last made the NCAA postseason in 2008 when they played in the South Region.

5.       Harding is 3-7 in its previous seven trips to the NCAA postseason. The Lady Bisons' last NCAA Tournament victory was a 5-0 defeat of North Alabama in 2007. Harding also has wins over Kennesaw State (5-3 in 2001) and Clark-Atlanta (9-0 in 2002).

6.       Harding enters the tournament 18-5 overall and on a 13-match winning streak that began with a 9-0 victory over Henderson State on Mar. 18.

7.       The Lady Bisons are ranked No. 47 in the latest NCAA II ITA National Rankings. It is the first time Harding's women have been nationally ranked this season. The squad has a 3-2 record against nationally-ranked teams, including its two victories over Arkansas Tech, then ranked No. 29.

8.       Harding's GAC Championship this season was its third conference title in program history and its first since 1993. First-year coach Marco Ruiz was named GAC Coach of the Year. Ali Rowden, Piper Huey, and Benyapa Phumtip were named 1st Team All-GAC, and Arielle Butler was 2nd Team.

9.       Huey is 20-6 in singles matches this season. She has the most singles victories on the team and is the first Lady Bison to reach 20 wins in a season since Gina Cielo won 20 in 2012.

10.   Butler, who is 16-7 in singles play, enters the tournament with Harding's longest singles winning streak at eight matches. Rowden is 17-7 overall and has won her last six singles matches.