ALVA, Oklahoma- The Lady Rangers will return to action Thursday evening in Searcy Arkansas as Northwestern takes on Harding University to start the teams trip to Arkansas. The game will tip-off at 5:30 PM at the Rhodes-Reaves Fieldhouse in Searcy, Arkansas. The two teams will enter Thursday tied for fourth in the conference with a 6-4 conference record.
 

Northwestern (10-6 overall, 6-4 GAC) have won seven of their last eight games including two of the last three games on the road.  Northwestern will look to bounce back Thursday after their win streak was snapped at seven to Oklahoma Baptist this past Saturday. 

 

The Red-and-Black lead the conference in rebounding margin as the team is third in the conference in offensive rebounds per game. Senior Bailey Brown leads the team with 41 on the season through the 16 games with Scout Frame at 36. Frame averages 2.8 per game for fifth best in the conference as Brown is 2.6 per game at seventh in the conference. 
 

Northwestern has been one of the better defensive teams in the conference helping lead to this season's success as the team ranks third in scoring defense allowing 63.1 points per game. The team is fourth in the conference in steals and fifth in steals per game. Carly Craig leads the team with 25 steals ranking 13th in the conference. Camille Thomas leads the team with seven blocks on the season. 
 

The Lady Rangers offensively rank seventh in the conference but have shared the ball well this season ranking second in the conference in assists led by Criaig with 73 on the season which ranks second in the conference. 
 

Scoring the Red-and-Black have been led by Brown with 18.4 points per game scoring double figures in all but just one game this year to date. The Lady Ranger senior has scored 20+ points in four of her last five games. Brown has four double-doubles on the season including three straight games. Scout Frame is second Lady Rangers are averaging double figures with 15.5 per game after scoring double figures in six straight games and 20+ in five of her last six with two double-doubles on the season. Kinsey Neiderer leads the team in three point shooting at 42% after hitting 37 three pointers this season ranking fourth in the conference. Northwestern as a team ranks third in three point shooting.

 

Scouting the Bisons: 

Harding University (10-5 overall, and 6-4 GAC) come into the Thursday matchup winners in three of their last four games and their last two straight. The Bisons are 4-2 overall at home this season after winning their last home game over Arkansas Tech.
 

The Bisons are the sixth ranked scoring offense in the conference averaging 75.1 points per game but have used high scoring attack the last two games after scoring 95 and 85 in their last two wins. Harding has four double figure scorers led by Sage Hawley with 17.8 points per game followed by Hannah Collins at 14.5, Jacie Evans 11.1 and Aubrey Isbell at 10.0 each shooting over 40% from the field overall. 
 

Harding's defense ranks seventh in the conference allowing 71.9 points per game. Collins leads the team with 28 steals on the season ranks 10 in the conference and is led in blocks with 27 by Hawley ranking third in the conference overall. 

Northwestern will look to use their strength in rebounding in this matchup as the Bisons are the eighth in the conference in rebounding margin compared to Northwestern being first in the conference. 
 

History:

After snapping an 11 game losing streak to Southwestern in the series history the Lady Rangers will look to continue that trend on Thursday as the Lady Rangers will look to snap a 16 game losing streak to Harding. 
 

The last game in Alva was a one point victory for the Bisons back in February of 2020 as the teams have not faced one another since that game. 
 

Follow the game: 

Watch: https://thelink.harding.edu/hu16/

Live Stats: http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=374189