Oct. 27, 2011

The Missouri State women's basketball team will make its 2011-12 debut Sunday at 2:05 p.m. with an exhibition contest against Harding at JQH Arena.

The Lady Bears and Harding have met just once previously, an 89-51 Missouri State victory at home in the second game of the 1984-85 season. Harding head coach Tim Kirby is in his 19th season at the school, the first 12 as an assistant coach for the Harding men before taking over the women's program for the 2005-06 campaign.

The Lady Bison went 18-10 last season and finished 8-6 in their final season in the Gulf South Conference. Harding officially became a member of the Great American Conference when the NCAA accepted the league on March 9, 2011, joining several of its former GSC mates along with members of the Lonestar Conference to form the new league, which is the 23rd NCAA Division II athletics conference.

Tickets are on sale now by calling (417) 836-7678, visiting www.MissouriStateTix.com or stopping by the Chevy Pickup Window at JQH Arena during regular ticket office hours. For a complete list of MSU Homecoming activities and events, please visit www.MissouriState.edu/homecoming.