No. 23 Harding (14-2, 10-0 GAC) vs. Arkansas-Monticello (8-7, 6-4 GAC)
Location: Searcy, Ark.
When: Saturday
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Coaches:
Harding – Tim Kirby (184-92, 10th season)
Arkansas-Monticello – Tanya Ray (4th season)
Live Stats/Live Audio/Live Video– Available on a link at HardingSports.com
HARDING
- Harding will be looking for its 11th straight win on Saturday as they wrapped up a four-game homestand against Arkansas-Monticello in Great American Conference action at the Rhodes Field House.
- The game also marks the start of the second half of the GAC schedule.
- The Lady Bisons moved up to No. 23 in latest poll released on Tuesday. It marks 23 straight weeks Harding has been ranked which dates back to last season. The Lady Bisons have also been ranked 8th, 15th, 20th, 22nd and 25th this season. Harding joins Arkansas Tech (12th) as the only GAC schools in the poll.
- Harding took sole possession of first place in the GAC standings after defeated No. 12 Arkansas Tech 74-61 in Searcy. Senior forward Arielle Saunders scored a career-high 28 points and grabbed 14 rebounds against the Golden Suns.
- The Lady Bisons have won their last nine home games against including the last three in the homestand. Harding defeated East Central 62-50 last Thursday, beat Southern Nazarene 69-53 last Saturday before Thursday's win over Arkansas Tech.
- Harding's 10-game winning streak is the fifth longest in Lady Bison history. Harding won a school record 18 straight last season.
- The Lady Bisons are led on the season Arielle Saunders who ranks sixth in the GAC in scoring, averaging 17.0 points and ranks second in the GAC in rebounds, averaging 11.2 per game. She also ranks third in the GAC in field goal percentage, shooting 58.1 percent from the field.
- Saunders needs 65 more rebounds to become only the third player in Harding history to have 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. Angie Dugger (1993-97) and Nancee Wilson (1989-93) are the only players to accomplish the feat. Saunders currently has 935 career rebounds and is in third place all time at Harding. She needs 187 rebounds to move into second place.
- Senior guard Montana Lewis also averages in double figures for Harding. She is second on the team in points averaging 10.6 per game and second on the team in rebounds averaging 6.0 per game. Lewis had 12 points and eight rebounds against Arkansas Tech on Thursday.
- Sophomore guard A'ndrea Haney has been doing the dirty work for Harding this season. Haney leads the GAC in assists averaging 3.9 per game and leads the GAC in steals averaging 2.0 per game. She scored six points on Thursday to move her over the 400 point career mark with 405. She is one of four active Harding players that have over 400 career points.
- Harding has been playing great defense this season. The Lady Bisons rank first in the GAC in scoring defense (57.3 points) and field goal percentage defense (34.4 percent). Harding has held its opponent to shooting under 38 percent during its winning streak (10 games).
- Harding has hit 108 3-pointers this season. Freshman guard Lundon Williams leads the Lady Bisons with 23. Montana Lewis is close behind with 20. Williams is shooting 48.9 percent from behind the 3-point line to lead the GAC. Lewis ranks fifth in the GAC, shooting 41.7 percent.
- Harding will also be looking for its 10th straight win at home Saturday. The Lady Bisons are averaging 21.0 more points than their opponents at home. They are also shooting 45.4 percent from the field and are holding their opponents to shooting 33.0 percent. Harding is shooting 36.2 percent from behind the 3-point line at home and is holding its opponents to shooting 27.9 percent from behind the arc. The Lady Bisons are averaging 44.5 rebounds at home and is outrebounding its opponents by 11.1 rebounds.
ARKANSAS-MONTICELLO
- Arkansas-Monticello heads into the game with an 8-7 overall record and a 6-4 GAC record.
- The Cotton Blossoms have won their last three games including a 77-69 win over Southern Arkansas on Thursday night. Arkansas-Monticello's other wins came against Northwestern Oklahoma 82-65 and Southwestern Oklahoma 68-56.
- The Cotton Blossoms are led on the season by Jordan Goforth who averages 19.9 points, ranking her third in the GAC. She also leads the GAC in free throw percentage, shooting 91.5 percent from the free throw line.
- Arkansas-Monticello leads the GAC in 3-point field goal percentage shooting 37.8 percent from behind the arc. Jordan Goforth ranks third in the GAC, shooting 43.8 percent from behind the 3-point line.
SERIES
- Arkansas-Monticello leads the series 30-29
- Harding has won the last five meetings dating back to the 2012-13 season. The Lady Bisons have held the Cotton Blossoms to under 64 points in each of those games.
- The Lady Bisons are 15-13 against the Cotton Blossoms at home.
- Harding won the first meeting between the two teams this season 69-49. Arielle Saunders had 16 points and 12 rebounds. Correy Moyer had 12 points and Falan Miller added 10 points for Harding. Jordan Goforth led Arkansas-Monticello with 19 points.
