This Weekend in Harding Sports, Oct. 20-21

Volleyball
Friday, 6 p.m. - at Oklahoma Baptist - Shawnee, Oklahoma
Coverage Links
Harding volleyball enters Friday's matchup with Oklahoma Baptist in second place in the GAC standings. The Lady Bisons are 8-1 in GAC matches and trail only Arkansas Tech (10-0). Just behind Harding is Oklahoma Baptist, in third place at 8-2. Oklahoma Baptist is 13-10 overall. Friday's match is the only meeting between the two this season. The teams have split two previous meetings with Harding winning last season 3-0 in Searcy.

Men's Soccer
Friday, 7 p.m. - vs. Lindenwood - Searcy, Arkansas (Stevens Soccer Field)
Coverage Links
Friday's men's soccer matchup between Harding and Lindenwood pits two of the top four teams in the NCAA II Central Region Rankings. Lindenwood, a member of the MIAA and located in St. Charles, Missouri, is ranked No. 3 in the region . The Lions have an 8-5-0 overall record and have won their last two games with shutouts, 2-0 at home against Delta State and 3-0 on the road at Upper Iowa. Harding is 6-4-2 overall and has won six of its last seven games, outscoring its opponents 18-7 during that stretch. Harding and Lindenwood have met five times with Lindenwood holding the series lead 4-0-1.

Men's and Women's Cross-Country
Saturday, 9 a.m. - Magnolia, Arkansas
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Harding will compete in the seventh edition of the GAC Cross-Country Championship Saturday in Magnolia, Arkansas. Harding's men won the GAC championship in 2013 and have finished second in each of the other five races. Last season, Harding placed second in Durant, Oklahoma, and was led by Lawson Belcher, who placed fourth in the 8K race in 25:12.3. Harding's women have also finished in the top two in each of the previous races. The Lady Bisons won championships in 2011, 2013, 2014 and 2015 and placed second the other two times, including last season. Madison Drennan was Harding's top finisher last season, placing fifth in the 5K race in 18:28.9.

Women's Soccer
Saturday, 11 a.m. - vs. Southwestern Oklahoma - Searcy, Arkansas (Stevens Soccer Field)
Coverage Links
With three games remaining in the regular season, Harding could pull closer to clinching a spot in the GAC Tournament with a good result against Southwestern Oklahoma. Southwestern is in second place in the conference standings at 5-1-3 (18 points) and has already clinched its berth. Harding is 4-4-1 in conference games and has won its last two. The Lady Bisons won the first meeting between the teams, 3-2 in Weatherford, Oklahoma on Sept. 28. Harding junior Bethany Sutherland has a school-record 49 goals and goes in search of No. 50.

Volleyball
Saturday, 11 a.m. - at Southern Nazarene - Bethany, Oklahoma
Coverage Links
Harding plays its second road match of the weekend against Southern Nazarene, its only match against the Crimson Storm this season. Southern Nazarene enters the weekend 11-11 overall and 6-3 in conference, good for a tie for fourth place. Southern Nazarene hosts Arkansas Tech on Friday before playing Harding Saturday. The Lady Bisons hold a 4-1 lead in the all-time series and won 3-0 last season. Southern Nazarene won the last meeting in Bethany, 3-0, in 2015.

Football
Saturday, 2 p.m. - vs. Southwestern Oklahoma - Searcy, Arkansas (First Security Stadium)
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Harding will carry a four-game winning streak into Homecoming 2017 as the Bisons take on the Southwestern Oklahoma State Bulldogs Saturday at First Security Stadium. Harding is 38-17-2 on Homecoming and has won its last three and four of its last five.

Southwestern is 2-5 and has lost its last two and six of its last seven. The Bulldogs are in 10th place in the conference standings. Harding is 4-3 in conference and tied for fifth.

Harding enters the game as the NCAA Division II leader in rushing yards per game (341.7) and second in rushing TD (23). The Bisons have rushed for more than 300 yards in five consecutive games. Harding has rushed for 200 or more yards in 54 of its last 55 GAC games and the last 20 straight.

Harding will be playing Southwestern Oklahoma for Homecoming for the second straight season. It is only the third time Harding has played the same opponent in consecutive Homecoming's (Southern Arkansas, 1977-78 & Arkansas-Monticello, 1989-90).

Harding's defense enters the game as the top unit in the GAC in rushing defense (116.7 yards per game) and second in total defense (331.1).

Harding is +6 in turnover margin in its three wins and has outscored its opponents 49-0 off turnovers. In the three losses, Harding was -5 in turnover margin and points off turnovers was tied 14-14.

Thursday's Results
Women's Soccer
Harding 4, Northwestern Oklahoma 0

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Players Mentioned

Jordan Shaw: 5' 10"; Freshman

#10 Zoe Hardin: MB; 6' 3"; Junior

Bryle Alcorn: 5' 4"; Sophomore

Lawson Belcher: 6' 4"; Senior

Madison Drennan: 5' 7"; Senior

Carlos Crisostomo: 5' 10"; Senior

Pablo Trevino: 5' 5"; Sophomore

Morgan Salvan: 6' 4"; Freshman

Luis Tirado: 5' 7"; Sophomore

Emily Faulkner: 5' 6"; Senior

Players Mentioned

Jordan Shaw
: 5' 10"; Freshman

#10 Zoe Hardin
: 6' 3"; Junior
: MB

Bryle Alcorn
: 5' 4"; Sophomore

Lawson Belcher
: 6' 4"; Senior

Madison Drennan
: 5' 7"; Senior

Carlos Crisostomo
: 5' 10"; Senior

Pablo Trevino
: 5' 5"; Sophomore

Morgan Salvan
: 6' 4"; Freshman

Luis Tirado
: 5' 7"; Sophomore

Emily Faulkner
: 5' 6"; Senior