Written by Eli Dean // Photo by Macy Cox
The Harding women’s basketball team will begin their new season with plans to improve on their success from the 2022-23 season, where they finished as Great American Conference (GAC) runners-up.
Head coach Tim Kirby said the team is ready to get to work.
“This is the hardest-working and most prepared team we’ve ever had,” Kirby said. “We’ve had a lot of really good teams and players, but we have an entire team that has put in the work during the summer and preseason.”
Senior forward Sage Hawley said she is focused on continuing to strengthen the culture of the team.
“This team has a lot of returners, so a lot of the culture is the same as last year,” Hawley said. “The one difference is we have grown up a little bit. Getting to the championship was good for us last year.”
Last year, the Lady Bisons led the nation in team rebounding and rebound differential, and Hawley said she is hoping to improve that area of her game.
“I’m hoping to improve my rebounding and decision-making,” Hawley said. “The longer I play basketball, the easier it can be for people to guard me. I have to constantly change my method of playing, getting more precise every year.”
With only one senior on the team last year, the Lady Bisons have brought back a group looking to get past the GAC Championship and improve on and off the court. Junior guard Rory Geer is one of the many returning players on the team from last year and said that the familiarity will be a big advantage this year.
“This year’s team is different because we have older girls who have played with each other and know what this program is about,” Geer said. “We also have a lot of young girls who are coming in [and] who are going to be able to make a big difference and allow us to play faster and spread the floor.”
The Lady Bisons begin their season on the road before their first home game on Nov. 14 against Cameron University. Hawley said this team is a special group as they prepare to improve on last year’s success.
“We love each other a lot,” Hawley said. “These girls are my sisters forever, and the love we share also allows us to be hard and honest with each other. I have wonderful teammates around me who are just as capable as I am to play college basketball.”
