Henderson State returns to the Duke Wells Center on Thursday as the Reddies play host to Harding with the women's game beginning at 5:30 p.m. and the men to follow with tip-off set for 7:30 p.m.
 
The Henderson State women's team, 6-11 overall and 4-7 in the GAC, will attempt to give Harding its first conference loss of the season as the Bisons enter with a 15-2 overall mark and 11-0 in league play.
 
Henderson State averages 67.7 points per game during conference play this season, shooting 42 percent from the field and 32 percent from 3-point range.
 
Aungelique Sledge leads the team in scoring this season averaging 19.4 points per game, and had a big game Saturday against Arkansas Tech with 27 points and 9 rebounds.
 
Haleigh Henson scored a career-high 22 points against OBU a week ago and is now averaging 10.8 points per contest. The freshman from Greenwood, Ark. is HSU's 3-point shooting threat having made 41-of-124 trifectas.
 
Dulincia Keener has also been a big part of HSU's success over the past five games, having double-double efforts in two of her last three games. The junior from Texarkana had 19 points and seven rebounds against Arkansas Tech on Saturday.
 
Harding, ranked 23rd in the Division II Poll, is outscoring its opponents by 17.5 points this season, averaging 74.9 points per game and shooting 45 percent from the field.    
 
Arielle Saunders leads the team in scoring and ranks seventh in the GAC averaging 17.2 points per game. Saunders is also second in in the GAC in rebounding with 11.6 rebounds per game.
 
Montana Lewis also averages in double-figures scoring 11.2 points per game and pulling down 5.8 rebounds.

Earlier this season Harding beat the Reddies 66-48 on Dec. 13 in Searcy. Sledge led Henderson State with 18 points on 7-of-28 shooting while Keener totaled 10 points and 7 rebounds.

Saunders scored 23 points and pulled down 9 rebounds to lead Harding.

Harding leads the all-time series over HSU 25-22. The first game ever between the two schools was played in the 1984-85 season, with HSU coming out on top 89-54.
 
The Henderson State men will attempt to slow down a surging Harding team that has won four straight games.
 
Henderson State has lost six of its last eight games including a 76-54 loss at Arkansas Tech last Saturday. However, the Reddies are 6-2 at home and enters the game with an 8-9 overall record and a 5-6 record in GAC play. The Reddies are tied for fifth-place in the GAC standings.
 
Kevin Kozan leads the Reddies in scoring averaging 15.1 points per game including an average of 16.8 points in the last five games.
 
Reggie Murphy follows averaging 12.6 points and a team-best 6.6 rebounds per game. Murphy recorded a double-double last Saturday against Arkansas Tech having 16 points and 11 rebounds.
 
Micah Walker is also averaging double-figures scoring 10.1 points per game while pulling down 5.2 rebounds. The senior from Jonesboro, Ark. scored had a double-double in the first game against Harding scoring 22 points while grabbing 10 boards.
 
Harding enters Thursday's game having a 9-8 overall record and a 7-4 mark in the GAC. The Bisons have yet to win a road game in six tries this season.
 
Harding ranks second in the GAC in scoring (78.8 points per game) and is also second in field goal percentage (48.3) and in 3-point field goal shooting (39.3). The Bisons like to shoot from the perimeter as Harding leads the league in 3-point field goals made with 179-of-456.
 
Andraz Kavas leads the team in scoring at 19.8 points and 7.1 points. Kavas scored 19 points in the first game against the Reddies.
 
Jacob Gibson follows averaging 14.3 points including shooting 43 percent from behind the 3-point arc.
 
Also averaging double-figures are Johnathan McGee (12.8 ppg.) and Blake McNair (12.4 ppg.). McGee totaled 22 points while McNair scored a game-high 26 points earlier the year against Henderson State.
 
Henderson State lost to Harding 92-83 earlier this season in Searcy.
 
Micah Walker led all scorers for Henderson with 22 points and 10 rebounds. Aaron Cooper also pitched in 21 points, while Kevin Kozan scored 13.    
 
Blake McNair led Harding with 26 points, while Johnathan McGee scored 22 and Andraz Kavas had 19.
 
Henderson State and Harding have played 115 times with the Reddies leading the series with a 73-42 advantage. The first meeting between the two teams was during the 1956-57 season. Last season, the two teams split during the regular-season with each team recording home wins.
 
The Reddies and the Bisons then met in the GAC Tournament Championship with Harding winning a 93-88 in double-overtime. Harding has won 10 of the last 13 meetings including a 92-83 victory earlier this season.
 
The games can be heard on ESPN 106.9 FM beginning with the pregame show at 5:15 p.m.

Aside from 106.9 FM, fans can also listen by logging on to the HSU Athletic web site at HSUSports.com.

WOMEN'S GAME NOTES
MEN'S GAME NOTES