---

GAME NOTES | SAU | HU | OUA

---

Tipping Off
The Southern Arkansas women's basketball team has punched their ticket to the 2016 Great American Conference Basketball Championships in Bartlesville, Okla. after they defeated Arkansas-Monticello 65-47 in their most-recent game on Monday.

It will be the Lady Muleriders third-consecutive trip to the conference tournament and the first under first-year head coach Julio Pacheco. In his first season with the Lady Muleriders, Coach Pacheco has not only returned the Lady Muleriders to the conference tournament, but his 15 wins thus far this season are the most in a season since the
2006-07 season. The 15 wins are also three shy of tying a program record for wins in a season as members of NCAA Division II.

With four games left in the regular season and at least one tournament game on tap, the Lady Muleriders could set a program record for wins in a season.

Up first, however, is a difficult task in a road game at Harding this Thursday before the Lady Muleriders are at home for the final three games of the regular season starting this Saturday with Ouachita.
 

---

LADY MULERIDER NEWS AND NOTES
The Southern Arkansas women's basketball team enters play this weekend with a 15-7 overall record and an 11-7 mark in the Great American Conference. The Lady Muleriders are coming off of a win in their last game played, a 65-47 victory over Arkansas-Monticello on "Rivalry Night" in the Great American Conference this past Monday.
On the season, the Lady Muleriders are averaging 74.4 points per game while allowing their opponents to score an average of 69.0 points per game for a scoring margin of +5.4. Their points per game average ranks third in the GAC, while their scoring defense ranks sixth and their scoring margin ranks fourth within the league.

As a team, the Lady Muleriders are shooting .447 (642-of-1,436) overall from the floor which includes a shooting mark of .331 (94-of-284) from long range. From the free throw line, the Lady Muleriders are shooting .647 (258-of-399). Their overall field goal percentage ranks second in the GAC while their 3-point field goal percentage ranks fourth. At the charity stripe the Lady Muleriders' percentage ranks 12th.

In terms of individual production, the Lady Muleriders have three players averaging double figures with Rosa Bryant leading the way at 18.9 points per game. Bryant's scoring average currently ranks third in the GAC and 26th in DII. Shana Holmes is next in double-figure scoring at 13.5 ppg. Tierra Tucker rounds out double-figure scoring at 11.4 ppg. Bryant is also the team's leading rebounder at 11.5 rebounds per game. Additionally, Bryant's rebounding average currently ranks first in the GAC and 12th in DII.

Defensively, the Lady Muleriders have forced 387 turnovers with 187 of those being steals. Additionally, the Lady Muleriders are allowing their opponents to shoot at a clip of .386 (523-of-1,355) overall from the floor and .316 (155-of-491) from beyond the arc.

COACH
The Lady Muleriders are coached by Julio Pacheco, who is in his first season at Southern Arkansas. Prior to becoming the head coach at SAU, Pacheco spent seven seasons as the assistant coach at Arkansas Tech where he helped guide the Golden Suns to the NCAA Tournament four times, advancing as far as the Elite Eight twice. Also while at Tech, Pacheco helped the Golden Suns capture four regular season championships and three conference tournament championships
 

---

SCOUTING HARDING
The Harding women's basketball team enters play this weekend with a 15-7 overall record and a 13-5 mark in the Great American Conference. The Lady Bisons won their last game in thrilling fashion as they went to double overtime to hand #15-ranked Arkansas Tech their first loss in the GAC this season.

On the season, the Lady Bisons are averaging 72.4 points per game while allowing their opponents to score an average of 65.5 points per game for a scoring margin of +6.9. Their points per game average ranks fourth in the GAC, while their scoring defense ranks fourth as well and their scoring margin ranks second within the league.

As a team, the Lady Bisons are shooting .395 (525-of-1,328) overall from the floor which includes a shooting mark of .339 (184-of-543) from long range. From the free throw line, the Lady Bisons are shooting .716 (358-of-500). Their overall field goal percentage ranks seventh in the GAC while their 3-point field goal percentage ranks third. At the charity stripe the Lady Bisons' percentage ranks fifth.

In terms of individual production, the Lady Bisons have two players averaging double figures with Sydney Layrock leading the way at 18.7 points per game. Layrock's points per game currently rank her fourth in the GAC. Behind Layrock is A'ndrea Haney at 13.7 ppg. Lundon Williams is just outside double-figure scoring at 9.6 ppg. to rank third on
the team.

Defensively, the Lady Bisons have forced 339 turnovers with 193 of those being steals. Additionally, the Lady Bisons are allowing their opponents to shoot at a clip of .383 (503-of-1,313) overall from the floor and .314 (153-of-488) from beyond the arc.

COACH
The Lady Bisons are coached by Tim Kirby, who is in his 11th year at Harding. In his previous 10 seasons, Kirby has amassed a 193-97 overall record. Earlier this season, Kirby won his 200th game overall and at Harding as his Lady Bisons beat Southeastern Oklahoma 103-95 in overtime. Three times, Kirby has led the Lady Bisons to 20 or more wins and he has advanced Harding to the NCAA Tournament each of the last two years.

THE SERIES
This is will be the 35th meeting since the start of the 1999-2000 season between the Lady Muleriders and the Lady Bisons. In that time, the Lady Bisons hold a 27-7 advantage over SAU, which includes wins in each of the last 13 games played in the series.
 

---

SCOUTING OUACHITA
The Ouachita women's basketball team enters play this weekend with an 8-16 overall record and a 5-13 mark in the Great American Conference. The Lady Tigers are coming off a loss in their last action as they fell 79-68 to Henderson State on "Rivalry Night" in the GAC last Monday. In the game prior, however, the Lady Tigers upset Harding at home, 87-83.

On the season, the Lady Tigers are averaging 65.3 points per game while allowing their opponents to score an average of 72.1 points per game for a scoring margin of -6.9. Their points per game average ranks 10th in the GAC, while their scoring defense ranks ninth and their scoring margin ranks 10th within the league.

As a team, the Lady Tigers are shooting .380 (534-of-1,407) overall from the floor which includes a shooting mark of .282 (145-of-515) from long range. From the free throw line, the Lady Tigers are shooting .771 (354-of-459). Their overall field goal percentage ranks 10th in the GAC while their 3-point field goal percentage ranks 11th. At the charity stripe the Lady Tigers' percentage ranks first.

In terms of individual production, the Lady Tigers have three players averaging double figures with Katie Kapler leading the way at 15.7 points per game. Kapler's points per game currently rank her seventh in the GAC. Behind Kapler is Breanna Harris at 15.3 ppg. Rounding out double figure scoring is Kori Bullard at 10.1 ppg.

Defensively, the Lady Tigers have forced 336 turnovers with 129 of those being steals. Additionally, the Lady Tigers are allowing their opponents to shoot at a clip of .421 (623-of-1,495) overall from the floor and .370 (170-of-460) from beyond the arc.

COACH
The Lady Tigers are coached by Gary Crowder, who is in his 21st year at Ouachita. In his previous 20 seasons, Crowder has amassed a 309-242 overall record. Three times, Crowder has won 20 or more games and 13 times, he has finished a season over .500.

THE SERIES
This is will be the 34th meeting since the start of the 1999-2000 season between the Lady Muleriders and the Lady Tigers. In that time, the Lady Tigers hold a 20-13 advantage over SAU.