Harding (7-3, 5-1 GAC) vs. Arkansas-Monticello (7-3, 4-2 GAC)
Jan. 14, 2016 • 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: 200-100 (11th season)
    Career: same
    vs. Arkansas-Monticello: 16-4
Tanya Ray
    at UAM: 46-71 (5th season)
    Career: same

THE SERIES
Series Record: Harding leads 31-30
in Searcy: HU leads 16-13
First Meeting: UAM 84-39 (11/15/85)
Last Meeting: HU 59-46 (3/7/15) – Bartlesville, Okla. (GAC Tournament)
Current Streak: HU, 7 games

The Harding women's basketball team will hosts Arkansas-Monticello on Thursday at 5:30 p.m., in Great American Conference action at the Rhodes-Reaves Field House.

Harding has won the last seven games against UAM and 12 of the last 13.. The Blossoms win came in Monticello in 2012 when they won 73-62.

Harding heads into the meeting with a 7-3 overall record and a 5-1 GAC record. The Lady Bisons are tied with Henderson State for second place in the GAC standings. Arkansas Tech sits atop the standings with a 6-0 GAC record.

Harding is coming off a 103-95 overtime win over Southeastern Oklahoma last Saturday. Junior guard A'ndrea Haney had a career-high 30 points to lead the Lady Bisons. Sophomore forward Sydney Layrock scored 13 of her 24 points in overtime. Sophomore forward Mackenzie McNamara came off the bench and finished with a career-high 21 points.

Arkansas-Monticello heads into game with a 7-3 overall record and a 4-2 GAC record. The Blossoms are coming off a 59-54 loss at Oklahoma Baptist. Before last Saturday's game, Arkansas-Monticello won six straight.

Harding Team Notes:
Harding head coach Tim Kirby won his 200th career game on Saturday. He is the first women's basketball coach at Harding to have 200 victories. Kirby is the winningest coach in Harding history with a .665 winning percentage. He is the longest tenured coach (11 seasons) and has coached in more games (300).

Harding is led on the season by Sydney Layrock who averages 17.2 points to rank sixth in the GAC. Layrock also ranks sixth in the GAC in rebounds, averaging 7.4 per game.

Harding is 3-0 at home this season. It will be the Lady Bisons first home game of the New Year and its first home game since Harding defeated Oklahoma Baptist 81-70 on Dec. 5.

The Lady Bisons rank first in the GAC in scoring defense as they hold their opponent to averaging 62.0 points.

Harding ranks second in the GAC in field goal percentage defense (36.5 percent), steals (8.4 per game) and 3-point field goals made (8.3 per game).

A'ndrea Haney has recorded 30 steals this season to rank first in the GAC. Haney averages 3.0 per game and has had at least three in each of her last four games. She also needs nine points to reach 700 in her career.

Lundon Williams leads the GAC in assist to turnover ratio (2.8). In 10 games, she has recorded 37 assists to 13 turnovers.

Series Notes:
Harding and Arkansas-Monticello is meeting for the 61st time on Thursday

Series Individual Records, Harding vs. Arkansas-Monticello:
    Points – 38, Angie Fouts (3/6/1995)
    Rebounds – 19, Arielle Saunders (3/7/2015)
    Assists – 9, Kaitlin Skinner (2/20/2010)

Opponent Notes:
Arkansas-Monticello was led by senior forward Jordan Goforth against Oklahoma Baptist on Saturday. Goforth scored 19 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Nikki Mullen made four 3-pointers for the Blossoms and finished with 15 points.

Arkansas-Monticello is led on the season by Jordan Goforth who leads the GAC in scoring, averaging 25.2 points per game. She also ranks fourth in rebounds, averaging 8.6 per game.

Goforth also ranks in the top 10 in the GAC in eight other categories. She ranks ninth in field goal percentage (53.9 percent), fourth in assists (4.9 per game), fourth in free throw percentage (87.5 percent), tied for seventh in steals (1.6 per game), third in 3-point field goal percentage (45.5 percent), sixth in assist/turnover ratio (2.0), second in defensive rebounds (6.8 per game), first in minutes played (38.0 per game).