Harding (3-2, 2-0 GAC) vs. Southern Nazarene (2-1, 1-1)
Dec. 3, 2015 • Rhodes-Reaves Field House • Searcy, Ark. • 5:30 p.m.

HOW TO FOLLOW
Radio: KVHU 95.3
Internet:
    Audio: www.HardingSports.com
    Video: www.HardingSports.com
    Live Stats: www.HardingSports.com

THE COACHES
Tim Kirby, Harding
    at Harding: 196-99 (11th season)
    Career: same
    vs. Southern Nazarene: 5-1
Derek Dorris
    at SNU: 43-43 (4th season)
    Career: same

THE SERIES
Series Record: Harding leads the series 5-2
in Searcy: Harding leads 3-0
First Meeting: SNU 96-53 (1/7/89)
Last Meeting: HU 74-73 (2/19/15)
Current Streak: HU, 4 games

The Harding women's basketball team will play its conference home opener on Thursday when it hosts Southern Nazarene in Great American Conference action at 5:30 p.m., at the Rhodes-Reaves Field House.

Harding has won its last four conference home openers and the Lady Bisons are 11-7 since joining the NCAA in 1997.

Harding enters the game with a 3-2 overall record and a 2-0 GAC record. Southern Nazarene heads into the contest with a 2-1 overall record and a 1-1 GAC record.

Harding is coming off a 59-51 non-conference loss at Delta State on Friday. Sophomore forward Sydney Layrock led Harding with 12 points, making 8-of-10 from the free throw line. Junior forward Correy Moyer came off the bench and scored 11, including making two 3-pointers.

Southern Nazarene is coming off a 68-56 win over Midwestern State. The Crimson Storm was led by Abby Boyd who had 21 points. Southern Nazarene shot 44.6 percent from the field and held Midwestern State to shooting 37.7 percent.

Harding Team Notes:
Harding will be looking to remain perfect in the GAC. The Lady Bisons defeated Northwestern Oklahoma 64-42 and Southwestern Oklahoma 85-74 on the road. In conference games this season Harding is led by Sydney Layrock who averages 17.5 points and 9.5 rebounds. Sophomore guard Lundon Williams is right behind her averaging 15.0 points and averaging three made 3-pointers a game.

Harding is playing great defense this season. The Lady Bisons lead the GAC in scoring defense as they hold their opponents to scoring 57.6 points per game. Harding also ranks first in the GAC in field goal percentage defense as they only allow its opponents to shoot 34.5 percent from the field.

Harding is led on the season by sophomore forward Sydney Layrock who averages 17.4 points to rank seventh in the GAC. She also averages 8.4 rebounds to rank fifth in the GAC. Layrock has already captured two double-doubles this season and has had two games where she scored over 20 points.

Junior guard A'ndrea Haney has recorded 12 steals this season to lead the GAC. Haney is averaging 2.4 steals and is second on the team in scoring, averaging 11.6 points per game.

Sophomore guard Lundon Williams leads the GAC and ranks 11th in the NCAA Division II in assist to turnover ratio. She has recorded 20 assists this season and had only five turnovers. Lundon also ranks tied for third in the GAC in 3-pointers made. She has made 13 this season and is shooting 52 percent from behind the arc.

Harding is averaging 7.8 made 3-pointers per game to rank third in the GAC. The Lady Bisons have made 39 this season which is the second most by a GAC team.

Series Notes:
Harding and Southern Nazarene are meeting for the eighth time. The Lady Bisons lead the series 5-2. Harding has won the last four meetings.

Series Individual Records, Harding vs. Southern Nazarene:
    Points - 30, Kristen Celsor (11/23/2013)
    Rebounds - 11, five times last by Arielle Saunders (2/19/2015)
    Assists - 7, Lundon Williams (2/19/2015)

Opponent Notes:
Southern Nazarene is located in Bethany, Oklahoma and is in its second year as a full member of the GAC. The Crimson Storm made the jump from NAIA to Division II in 2011.

Southern Nazarene opened its season with GAC play when it hosted Henderson State on Nov. 19. The Crimson Storm fell 70-61. Southern Nazarene bounced back that Saturday to defeat Ouachita 75-62 in Bethany.

The Crimson Storm is led on the season by Abby Boyd who averages 20 points to rank fourth in the GAC. Two other players average in double-figures. Danielle Gaddis averages 14.3 points and LaShabra Plunkett averages 10.5 points and leads the team in rebounds averaging 8.5 per game.

Danielle Gaddis ranks tied for third in the GAC in field goal percentage. She is shooting 60 percent from the floor.

Chelseah Savage ranks second in the GAC in assists averaging 6.7 per game. She has recorded 20 this season which is the fourth most in the conference.

Southern Nazarene is shooting 41.6 percent from the field this season to rank third in the GAC. The Crimson Storm rank first in conference in 3-point field goal percentage defense as they hold their opponents to shooting 20.0 percent from behind the arc.

Southern Nazarene ranks first in the GAC in steals, averaging 9.0 per game. Chelseah Savage and Danielle Gaddis both averaging 1.7 per game.