29 Oct 2025 Lady Bisons enter season at No. 25, face nationally ranked foes

Posted at 9:26 PMh in Sports by

SEARCY — The Harding University women’s basketball team will open the 2025-26 season ranked No. 25 in the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Division II Top 25 Preseason Poll, the program announced Tuesday.

The ranking is the first preseason appearance for the Lady Bisons in the WBCA poll since they were ranked No. 15 to begin the 2014-15 season. It also marks the second consecutive poll in which Harding has been featured, following their No. 24 placement in the final rankings of the 2023-24 season.

The Lady Bisons are coming off a successful 25-7 campaign that saw them capture the Great American Conference (GAC) Tournament title and earn a berth in the NCAA Division II Central Region Tournament.

Despite the momentum, the team faces significant turnover. Head Coach Tim Kirby, entering his 21st season, must replace his top three scorers from the previous championship squad.

Harding returns two key starters: junior guard Josie Williams (9.8 points, 3.0 assists per game) and junior forward Maddi Holt (8.3 points per game). However, the rest of the roster is loaded with fresh faces, as seven of the team’s 12 players will be making their Lady Bison debuts in the upcoming season.

This challenging new season will start immediately, as Harding is set to compete in the Texas Woman’s Tip-Off Classic in Denton, Texas. The Lady Bisons will face two nationally ranked opponents on opening weekend, battling No. 23 Tampa on Nov. 7 before taking on the host, No. 3 Texas Woman’s, on Nov. 8.

The respect for the program extends to the conference level, where Harding was recently voted to finish tied for first place in the GAC Preseason Coaches Poll.