RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – On the heels of the program's third Great American Conference regular-season championship, Harding head coach Tim Kirby was named the GAC Coach of the Year, leading a group of three Lady Bison standouts—Josie Williams, Kori Sanders, and Maddi Holt—on the All-GAC lists, the league office announced Wednesday.
The Lady Bisons (23-5, 17-5 GAC) added the 2025-26 title to a trophy case that includes regular-season crowns from 2014 and 2017. It was Kirby's fourth GAC Coach of the Year honor.
Junior guard Josie Williams headlined the athletic honors as a First Team All-GAC selection. A native of Conway, Williams was the engine of the GAC's most efficient offense, ranking third in the conference and 24th in NCAA Division II with a 2.02 assist-to-turnover ratio. She averaged 12.9 points and 5.2 rebounds while finishing third in the league with 3.7 assists per game.
Freshman Kori Sanders earned Second Team All-GAC honors after a historic debut season. Sanders proved to be the league's most durable player, leading the GAC and ranking fifth nationally with 37.6 minutes per game. She led the conference in total assists (137) and was a defensive force, ranking second in the conference with 2.3 steals per game.
Junior Maddi Holt was named Honorable Mention All-GAC. Holt provided the perimeter punch for the champions, leading the team with 50 three-pointers made on the season.
Harding's excellence extended to the classroom as well. Katelyn Kabrich was recognized as a GAC Elite Scholar-Athlete (4.0 GPA), while Kinley Hammitt, Allie Rehl, Amelia Rogers, and Williams were named to the GAC All-Academic Team.
Other major conference awards went to Kira Bass of Northwestern Oklahoma State (Player of the Year), SWOSU's Landry Allen (Defensive Player and Newcomer of the Year), and Southeastern Oklahoma State's Tori Kilburn (Freshman of the Year).
As the No. 1 seed, Harding will begin its quest for a GAC Tournament title on Thursday in Fort Smith, Arkansas, against eighth-seeded Southern Nazarene.
Harding Postseason Award Summary:
