Harding Women’s Basketball Hosts Northwestern Oklahoma State Today

Courtesy Harding University Athletics Department

SEARCY – The Harding women’s basketball team continues Great American Conference play on Saturday as they host Northwestern Oklahoma State at 2 p.m., at the Rhodes Field House. The Lady Bisons head into the game with a 6-4 overall record and a 2-2 GAC record.

Harding is coming off a 69-61 GAC win over Southwestern Oklahoma State on Thursday. Sophomore guard Shana Holmes led HU with 19 points. Junior forward Kristen Celsor captured her second straight double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Celsor hit 7-of-11 from the field and was perfect from the free throw line hitting 3-of-3.

HU is looking for their fourth straight win on Saturday. Harding is 4-0 overall at home and 2-0 this season in GAC action. The Lady Bisons’ GAC home wins were against Southern Nazarene and SWOSU.

Harding has two players that average 15 or more points per game – Shana Holmes (15.4) and Kristen Celsor (15.0). Holmes ranks fifth in the GAC in scoring and Celsor ranks sixth. Ouachita Baptist and Henderson State are the only other schools that have two players in the GAC in the top 10 in scoring. Sophomore Arielle Saunders also averages in double figures at 10.5 per game.

Kristen Celsor has scored 14 or more points six times this season. She has scored 18 points or more in the last three games, including pouring in a career-high 33 points against Missouri Southern State on Dec. 15. Celsor has also recorded a double-double the last two games as she grabbed 11 rebounds against Christian Brothers and SWOSU.

Saunders has been dominating around the goal this season for HU. She leads Harding and ranks fourth in the GAC in rebounds, averaging eight a game. Saunders also ranks fourth in the GAC in blocks, averaging two a game. She has had over four blocks in a game three times this season, including a season-high five against SWOSU on Thursday.

Harding ranks third in the GAC in field goal percentage defense in conference games this season. HU is only allowing their opponents to shoot 36.4 percent from the field. In the last two games, the Lady Bisons defense has held their opponents to shooting 31 percent from the field. HU held Christian Brothers to 31 percent and SW Oklahoma State 31.5 percent.

Northwestern Oklahoma State heads into the game with a 3-7 overall record and a 2-2 GAC record. It is the first season for NWOSU in the GAC. The Rangers were affiliated with NAIA and were members of the Sooner Athletic Conference last season.

Northwestern Oklahoma State has lost their last three games, including their last two GAC games. NWOSU fell at Southern Nazarene 63-53 before the holiday break and at Arkansas Tech 73-62 on Thursday.

The Rangers are led by senior forward Titania Simmons who averages 10.0 points. She also leads NWOSU in 3-point field goals made with 13. Simmons has been to the free throw line 28 times this season and has made 23 (82.1 percent). Junior guard Dierra Gilmore ranks fifth in the GAC in 3-point field goal percentage (43.5 percent).

Senior guard Renee Golliday leads Northwestern Oklahoma State on the boards averaging six a game.

Saturday will be the first meeting between the two teams.

Check Hardingsports.com for links to the live stats and live video.