RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Arkansas Tech Golden Suns will try to pick up their third and fourth conference wins this weekend as they take on Harding and Henderson State in Great American Conference action. Tech will be in Searcy, Ark. on Thursday for a 5:30 p.m. contest with the Lady Bisons, before a 1 p.m. match against the Reddies in Arkadelphia, Ark. on Saturday.
 
FOLLOW THE ACTION
Live audio and statistics are available at www.arkansastechsports.com. The games will be carried live on 102.3-FM (KCJC) in Russellville, with Sam Strasner calling the play-by-play.
 
ALL-TIME SERIES
Tech leads the all-time series 48-13 against Harding, including a current three-game winning-streak. Last season the Suns went a perfect 3-0 against the Lady Bisons defeating Harding 77-64 in Searcy, 56-54 in Tucker Coliseum and 63-62 in the GAC tournament Championship. Tech is 20-8 when playing a Rhodes-Reaves Field House.
 
The Suns hold a 64-14 advantage in the all-time series against Henderson State and have won ten of the last 12 matchups. Earlier this season the Reddies handed the the Golden Suns their first GAC loss of the season as HSU defeated Tech 70-62 in Tucker Coliseum. Tech is 29-7 when playing in the Duke Wells Center.
 

Stats	TECH	HU	HSU
Record	5-9 (2-6 GAC)	10-4 (5-3 GAC)	11-4 (6-3 GAC)
Pts/GM	70.0	71.1	75.1
FG%	40.2	41.6	43.8
3FG%	31.1	31.1	32.9
FT%	65.8	63.1	72.6
Reb/GM	42.6	45.1	35.5
Ast/GM	12.4	14.9	11.7
Blk/GM	3.0	3.1	3.2
Stl/GM	9.4	7.1	7.1
Pts Allowed/GM	63.0	59.3	69.3
FG% Defense	37.3	34.5	40.2
3FG% Defense	33.8	25.9	25.4
Rebound Margin	+4.2	+11.3	-1.7
Ast-TO Ratio	0.8	0.9	0.7

 
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN SUNS
Arkansas Tech (5-9, 2-6 GAC) has hit a rough patch, as the Suns have dropped their last five contests. The most recent losses coming to Oklahoma Baptist (63-59) on Jan. 12 and Southern Nazarene (68-54) on Jan. 10.
 
Despite their five game losing-streak, the Golden Suns have rebounded the ball well. Tech ranks second in the GAC in rebounding margin (+3.5), second in rebounding offense (42.5), second in offensive rebounds per game (13.9), and third in defensive rebounds per game (28.6). Lyrik Williams leads the team with 6.1 rebounds per game.
 
Hannah Villines and Jacie Higgins have been Tech's most reliable scorers as Villines is averaging a team-high 12.2 points per game while Higgins follows with 11.9 points per game. Villines is also averaging 2.1 steals per game, which ranks as the fourth best in the GAC.
 
SCOUTING THE LADY BISONS
Harding (10-4, 5-3 GAC) enters Thursday's game on a two-game winning-streak after defeating Oklahoma Baptist (75-65) on Jan. 10 and Southern Nazarene (66-53) on Jan. 12.
 
The Lady Bisons boast one of the best defenses in the conference as they lead the GAC in field goal percentage defense (34.5%), and are ranked second in scoring defense (59.3), second in 3-point field goal percentage defense (25.9%) and are third in blocks per game (3.1). Harding is also the best rebounding team in the conference, pulling down 45.1 rebounds per game. HU leads the league in rebounding margin (+11.3), rebounding offense (45.1) and rebounding defense (33.9).
 
Kellie Lampo is Harding's top offensive threat, scoring 17.4 points per game while shooting 51.5 percent from the floor. Cheyenne Brown (12.4 ppg), Carissa Caples (12.1 ppg) and Kennedy Cooper (10.2) are also scoring in double figures. Cooper also leads the team with 7.8 rebounds per game, while Caples is the best 3-point shoot as she shoots 37.1 percent from behind the arc (26-of-70).
 
SCOUTING THE REDDIES
Henderson State (11-4, 6-3 GAC) has lost two of its last three games. Last weekend the Reddies defeated Northwestern Oklahoma (59-53) on Jan. 10, before falling to Southwestern Oklahoma (76-64) on Jan. 12.
 
The Reddies lead the GAC in 3-point percentage defense (25.4%), and are ranked second in field goal percentage (43.8%), second in blocked shots per game (3.2), third in scoring offense (75.1), third in 3-point field goal percentage (32.9%) and third in free throw percentage (72.6%).
 
Pink Jones leads the Henderson offense, scoring 15.9 points per game while shooting 46.2 percent from the floor and 77.8 percent from the free throw line. Jones also leads the team with 4.4 assists per game. Hailey Estes (14.1 ppg), Blu Jones (12.2 ppg) and Karrington Whaley (10.5 ppg) are also averaging double-digits in scoring. Estes leads the team with 8.6 rebounds per game, while Blu Jones shoots 42.9 percent from 3-point range (30-of-70).