Harding (16-9, 14-7 GAC) vs. Southeastern Oklahoma (13-14, 11-10 GAC)
Feb. 27, 2016 • Rhodes-Reaves Field House • Searcy, Ark. • 1 p.m.
HOW TO FOLLOW
Radio: KVHU 95.3
Internet:
Live Audio: www.HardingSports.com
Live Video: www.HardingSports.com
Live Stats: www.HardingSports.com
THE COACHES
Tim Kirby, Harding
at Harding: 209-106 (11th season)
Career: same
vs. SOSU: 8-3
Darin Grover
at SOSU: 169-138 (11th season)
Career: same
THE SERIES
Series Record: Harding leads 10-6
in Searcy: HU leads 5-2
First Meeting: SOSU 86-69 (1/22/98)
Last Meeting: HU 103-95 OT (1/9/16)
Current Streak: HU, 1 game
The Harding women's basketball team will play its final regular season game on Saturday when it hosts Southeastern Oklahoma in Great American Conference action at 1 p.m., at the Rhodes-Reaves Field House.
Harding is 8-3 at home this season and 7-3 in the GAC. In the three losses the Lady Bisons have lost by a combined seven points. The losses came against Henderson State (66-62), Southwestern Oklahoma (79-77) and Southern Arkansas (71-70).
Harding heads into the game with a 16-9 overall record and a 14-7 GAC record. The Lady Bisons have sole possession of second place in the GAC standings after Southwestern Oklahoma and Southern Arkansas both lost on Thursday. Arkansas Tech sits in first with a 20-1 GAC record. Harding will find out what seed they will be in the upcoming GAC Tournament on Saturday. The top eight teams in the standings advance to the GAC Tournament held March 3-6, in Bartlesville, Oklahoma.
Harding snapped a two game losing streak on Thursday when it defeated East Central 70-63. The Lady Bisons were led by Sydney Layrock who had 27 points, making nine field goals and seven free throws. Harding made 10 3-pointers in the game for the 10th time this season. Lundon Williams and Chelsea Heidebrecht each made three to lead the Lady Bisons behind the arc.
Southeastern Oklahoma heads into the contest with a 13-14 overall record and an 11-10 GAC record. The Savage Storm sealed a spot in the GAC Tournament and they are currently in seventh place in the GAC standings.
Harding Team Notes:
Harding is led on the season by Sydney Layrock who averages 19.6 points to rank third in the GAC. She has scored at least 20 points in the last six games and has scored over 20 points 12 times this season. Layrock also has scored in double-figures in every game this season. She also averages 6.3 rebounds.
The Lady Bisons rank second in the GAC in 3-point field goals made. Harding averages 8.2 made 3-pointers per game. Lundon Williams averages 2.0 per game to rank eighth in the GAC.
Harding ranks third in the GAC scoring defense as it holds its opponent to averaging 66.2 points per game.
Junior guard A'ndrea Haney ranks 10th in the GAC in free throw percentage, shooting 77.7 percent. Haney has made 122 free throws this season which is most in the GAC and ranks 15th in NCAA Division II.
Harding ranks third in the GAC in steals, averaging 8.5 per game. A'ndrea Haney has recorded 70 steals, the most in the GAC, and averages 3.0 per game to rank first in the GAC and 10th in NCAA Division II. Lundon Williams has had 48 steals and ranks third in the GAC averaging 1.9 per game.
Harding ranks 10th in NCAA Division II in fewest turnovers (334).
Kaylee Wiedower ranks ninth in the GAC in 3-point field goal percentage, shooting 37.9 percent.
A'ndrea Haney needs six more steals to reach 200 in her career. Bridget Benson is the only Harding player to reach 200 career steals. Haney currently ranks third all-time at Harding with 194 and needs four to move into second place and pass Emily Prysock.
Haney has recorded 70 steals this season, 64 last season and 60 her freshman year. Her 70 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 six more points to move into 18th all-time at Harding. She also needs four more free throws to move into sixth all-time at Harding (307) and pass Kristen Celsor.
Series Notes:
Harding and Southeastern Oklahoma are meeting for the 17th time. When the two teams met in Durant, Oklahoma earlier this season, the Lady Bisons won 103-95 in overtime. A'ndrea Haney had a career-high 30 points, making seven field goals and 13-of-15 free throws. She also had 10 rebounds to capture her only double-double of the season. Sydney Layrock finished with 24 points and seven rebounds. Mackenzie McNamara came off the bench and scored 21 points. Olivia Potter led Southeastern Oklahoma with 38 points, making 10 3-pointers. Kaylie Baxter made seven 3-pointers and finished with 23 points. The Savage Storm made 18 3-pointers in the game.
Series Individual Records, Harding vs. Southeastern Oklahoma:
Points – 30, Molly McPherson (2/4/1999)
Rebounds – 18, Arielle Saunders (2/7/2013)
Assists – 7, four times last by A'ndrea Haney (1/10/2015)
Opponent Notes:
Southeastern Oklahoma is coming off a 66-54 loss at Arkansas Tech on Thursday. The Savage Storm were led by Kaylie Baxter who had 12 points. Arkansas Tech held Southeastern Oklahoma to shooting 38.8 percent from the field and seven 3-pointers.
The Savage Storm are led on the season by Olivia Potter who averages 12.5 points. Rachel Wallace is right behind her, averaging 12 points per game.
Taylor Richards ranks third in the GAC in assists, averaging 4.4 per game. She is also shooting 80.2 percent from the free throw line to rank sixth in the GAC.
Kaylie Baxter ranks fourth in the GAC in 3-point field goal percentage. She has made 67 this season and is shooting 41.9 percent. Rachel Wallace is right behind her ranking fifth, shooting 41.7 percent.
Southeastern Oklahoma ranks first in the GAC in 3-point field goals made, averaging 8.3 per game. Olivia Potter ranks second in the GAC averaging 2.8 per game and Kaylie Baxter ranks sixth averaging 2.5 per game.
Southeastern Oklahoma ranks in the top three in the GAC in:
3-point field goal percentage: 34.7 (2nd)
Assists: 15.2 (3rd)
Assist/Turnover Ratio: 1.1 (2nd)
3-point field goals made: 8.3 (1st)
