Lady Bisons Basketball Team Host Ouachita Baptist on Saturday

Courtesy HU Athletics Department

SEARCY – The Harding women’s basketball team looks for its sixth straight win on Saturday as they host Ouachita Baptist at 5:30 p.m. in Great American Conference action at the Rhodes Field House. The Lady Bisons head into the game with an 8-4 overall record and a 4-2 GAC record.

Harding is coming off a thrilling win at Henderson State on Thursday. HSU went on a 6-0 run with 2:48 left in the game to take a 56-55 lead with 22 seconds left. Sophomore forward Arielle Saunders hit two free throws to put HU up by one with 14 seconds remainging. Senior guard Deshelle Isaac-Boyce blocked HSU’s shot at the buzzer to give HU the win. Saunders led Harding with 18 points, hitting 10-of-10 from the free throw line. She also had two blocks and two steals. Junior forward Kristen Celsor added 12 points for HU. It was the Lady Bisons first GAC road win this season.

Kristen Celsor leads HU in scoring and is tied for sixth in the GAC averaging 14.2 points a game. Sophomore guard Shana Holmes averages 13.8 points and ranks eighth in the GAC. Arielle Saunders averages 11.1 points.

Harding has jumped on their opponents early this season. HU has led at halftime eight times and gone on to win seven times. HU is shooting 47 percent from the field, outscoring their opponents by 107 points (507-405) and is averaging 18.1 rebounds in the first half.

Arielle Saunders leads the Lady Bisons this season on the boards averaging 7.8 a game which ranks fifth in the GAC. Kristen Celsor is close behind, averaging 7.1 rebounds a game, ranking her seventh. Sophomore guard Montana Lewis ranks ninth, averaging 6.8 a game. Harding is the only team in the GAC that has three players ranked in the top 10.

Arielle Saunders ranks fourth in the GAC in blocks with 24 (2.0 rpg). She has had two or more blocks in each game during the Harding winning streak.

Harding ranks second in the GAC in scoring defense as they only allow their opponents to score 60.4 points per game.

Ouachita Baptist heads into the game with an eleven-game winning streak and are 11-1 overall and 6-0 in the GAC. The Lady Tigers are first in the GAC standings. OBU is also coming off a thrilling game. The Lady Tigers defeated Arkansas Tech in Arkadelphia 84-81 in overtime. OBU had four players that scored in double-digits, including two players that scored 20 or more points – Monica Williams (23) and Nashia James (20).

Ouachita Baptist received 50 votes in the WBCA poll this past week but hasn’t cracked the top 25 this season.

The Lady Tigers rank first in the GAC in assists (15.7) and assist/turnover ratio (0.9). OBU ranks second in the GAC in four categories – scoring offense (74.1), scoring margin (+10.4), field goal percentage defense (35.4) and blocks (5.6).

Senior forward Monica Williams ranks third in the GAC in scoring, averaging 18.7 points a game. Williams also ranks third in the GAC in rebounds (9.8 rpg). Junior guard Nashia James is tied for sixth in the GAC, averaging 14.2 points. Sophomore guard Kendra Coyle ranks first in the GAC in 3-point field goal percentage (46.7 percent).

Harding leads the series between the two teams 32-27. Ouachita Baptist defeated Harding both times last season. HU lost at OBU 80-76 in overtime and fell at home 76-60. OBU has won the last four meetings. The Lady Bisons last win was February 27, 2010 in Arkadelphia. HU won 70-60.

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