Harding (14-7, 12-5 GAC) vs. No. 15 Arkansas Tech (19-2, 17-0 GAC)
Feb. 15, 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: 207-104 (11th season)
Career: same
vs. ATU: 7-17
Dave Wilbers, Arkansas Tech
at ATU: 210-51 (9th season)
Career: same
The Harding women's basketball team will play its first home game in four games on Monday when it hosts No. 15 Arkansas Tech in Great American Conference action at the Rhodes-Reaves Field House at 5:30 p.m.
Harding is 6-2 at home this season and 5-2 in GAC games.
Harding heads into the game with a 14-7 overall record and a 12-5 GAC record. The Lady Bisons have sole possession of second place in the GAC standings. Arkansas Tech sits in first with a 17-0 GAC record. The top eight teams in the standings advance to the GAC Tournament held March 3-6, in Bartlesville, Oklahoma.
Harding is coming off an 87-83 loss at Ouachita on Saturday. Sydney Layrock led Harding with a career-high 30 points. A'ndrea Haney made 6-of-8 from the field including three 3-pointers to finish with 21 points. Ouachita was led by Breanna Harris who had 41 points, making six 3-pointers. The Lady Tigers shot 49.1 percent from the field and 50.0 percent from behind the 3-point line. They also made 23-of-26 free throws.
Arkansas Tech heads into the contest with a 19-2 overall record and a 17-0 GAC record. The Goldens Suns clinched at least a share of the GAC regular season title on Saturday. They will look to win it outright on Monday.
Harding Team Notes:
Harding is led on the season by Sydney Layrock who averages 18.5 points to rank fourth in the GAC. Layrock also averages 6.2 rebounds.
The Lady Bisons rank first in the GAC in 3-point field goals made. Harding averages 8.5 made 3-pointers per game. Lundon Williams averages 2.0 per game to rank ninth in the GAC.
Harding ranks second in the GAC in scoring margin averaging 7.1 more points than its opponent. It ranks third in the GAC scoring defense (64.8 points), field goal percent defense (38.3 percent) and 3-point field goal percentage (34.2 percent).
Junior guard A'ndrea Haney ranks 10th in the GAC in free throw percentage, shooting 77.5 percent. Haney has made 107 free throws this season which is most in the GAC.
Harding ranks first in the GAC in steals, averaging 8.7 per game. A'ndrea Haney and sophomore guard Lundon Williams are one and two in the GAC in steals per game. Haney has recorded 65 steals, the most in the GAC, and averages 3.1 per game to rank first in the GAC. Williams has had 42 steals and ranks second in the GAC averaging 2.0 per game.
Lundon Williams ranks fourth in the GAC in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.6). In 21 games, she has recorded 74 assists to 29 turnovers.
Harding ranks sixth in NCAA Division II in fewest turnovers (277).
Lundon Williams ranks tenth in the GAC in 3-point field goal percentage, shooting 36.8 percent.
A'ndrea Haney needs 11 most steals to reach 200 in her career. She currently ranks third all-time at Harding with 189 and needs nine to move into second place and pass Emily Prysock. Haney has recorded 65 steals this season. She recorded 64 last season and 60 her freshman year. Her 65 steals this season ranks third all-time at Harding for the most in a season. Bailey St. Clair set the record in the 2009-10 season when she had 90. St. Clair also has the second most when she recorded 83 in the 2010-11 season.
A'ndrea Haney also needs 10 more points to move into 19th all-time at Harding. She also needs two more free throws to move into seventh all-time at Harding (292). Haney has recorded 305 assists and needs three more to pass Kymm Alexander for seventh place all-time at Harding.
Sydney Layrock needs seven more rebounds to reach 300 in her career (293).
Series Notes:
Harding and Arkansas Tech are meeting for the 63rd time. When the two teams met earlier this season in Russellville, Arkansas, Arkansas Tech won 80-52. Sydney Layrock led Harding with 19 points, making six field goals and six free throws. Chelsea Heidebrecht made three of the Lady Bisons six 3-pointers in the game. The Golden Suns were led by Fatima Adams who had 21 points, making 8-of-15 field goals and 5-of-6 free throws. Arkansas Tech shot 53.6 percent in the game and held Harding to shooting 29.6 percent.
Series Individual Records, Harding vs. Arkansas Tech:
Points – 30, Bridget Benson (2/20/1995)
Rebounds – 17, Heather Lawrence (2/27/2003)
Assists – 8, Lakyn Garrison (1/24/2008)
Opponent Notes:
Arkansas Tech is coming off a 77-68 win at Southern Arkansas on Saturday. Fatima Adams had 29 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Golden Suns.
Arkansas Tech has won its last 13 games. Its last loss came at Drury on Dec. 15 when the Panthers defeated the Golden Suns 71-64.
Arkansas Tech has won its last 19 GAC games, dating back to last season.
The Golden Suns are 9-2 overall on the road this season and 9-0 in GAC games.
Arkansas Tech ranks first in the GAC in scoring offense (83.6 points), scoring margin (+21.2 points), field goal percentage (48.4 percent), 3-point field goal percentage (37.3 percent), 3-point field goal percentage defense (28.0 percent), rebounding margin (+6.3) and assists (15.8).
The Golden Suns are led on the season by Fatima Adams who ranks second in the GAC in scoring, averaging 20.9 points per game. Adams also ranks fourth in the conference in rebounding, averaging 9.2 per game.
