RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas Tech will begin play in the NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Tournament on Friday, as the Golden Suns take on Harding in Searcy, Ark. at 5 p.m. The seventh-seeded Suns are in the tournament for the sixth time in ten seasons under Coach Dave Wilbers.  
 
FOLLOW THE ACTION
Live audio, video and statistics for Friday's game are available at www.arkansastechsports.com. The game will be carried live on 102.3-FM (KCJC) in Russellville with Sam Strasner calling the play-by-play.
 
ALL-TIME SERIES
Arkansas Tech leads the all-time series against Harding, 46-11. The Lady Bisons have won all three matches this season, however, including a 75-73 victory on a last-second layup in the Great American Conference championship game on Sunday. Friday's game will be the first time Tech and Harding meet in a national tournament since 1996 when the Suns took the on the Lady Bisons in the NAIA Southwest Region Playoffs.
 
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN SUNS
Arkansas Tech (22-7) received an at-large bid to the tournament after finishing second in the GAC regular season standings and reaching the conference tournament finals. The Suns are currently receiving votes for the WBCA Coaches' Top 25 Poll. Tech has been ranked in the top 25 for 10 out the 15 weeks this season, reaching its highest ranking of 13 after the Suns defeated No. 11 Drury on December 7.
 
The Golden Suns are led by seniors Anissa Pounds and Kelsey McClure, scoring 13.9 points and 12.6 points per game, respectively. Over the last six games, Pounds is averaging 19 points per game, including a career-high 34 points against Henderson State on Feb. 18. During the GAC tournament, McClure averaged a team-high 20.7 points and shot 62.5 percent from the field in three games. McClure, Pounds and Cheyenne North were named to the eight-member GAC All-Tournament Team.
 
SCOUTING THE LADY BISONS
Harding (27-3) is currently riding a 13-game win streak, including the victory over Tech in the GAC championship game. The Lady Bison earned the second seed in the Central Region and are currently ranked 10^th in the WBCA Coaches' Poll.
 
Caroline Hogue paces the Lady Bisons with 13.3 points and 8.7 rebounds per game, and she has reached double figures in scoring in her last 10 games for Harding. Sydnie Jones averages 10.6 points and ranks second in the GAC in field-goal percentage. Jones scored a career-high 30 points in the conference championship game, including the game-winning layup with three seconds to play, to earn MVP honors.
 
In Harding's win over Tech in the GAC Championship, the Lady Bison outscored the Suns, 23-13, in the second quarter to take a six-point lead into halftime. Harding led for the entire third quarter and held off the Golden Suns until two free-throws put Tech ahead, 71-69, with just over two minutes to play.
 
After two Harding free-throws tied the score, the Lady Bisons forced a missed layup by the Suns and took possession with 16 seconds remaining in the contest. The Golden Suns forced a missed three-pointer, but Harding's Jones grabbed the offensive board and netted the go-ahead bucket to secure the championship.