" KIRBY HIRED AS SUCCESSOR After eight years as head coach of the Lady Bisons, Brad Francis resigned his position at the end of the regular season. Francis, who announced his decision Feb. 20, had a career record of 99-116 as head coach. The Lady Bisons finished the 2004-2005 season with an overall record of 11-17. The team was 5-22 overall last season. University officials announced Feb. 27 that Tim Kirby, assistant men' 5 basketball coach for 12 years, would take the helm as women's head coach. "Coach Kirby has been part of the Harding basketball family for 12 years," Greg Hamden, athletic director, said. "He has been watching women' 5 basketball and knows the Gulf South Conference. He is a great man that we think the world o£." Kirby will begin next year with many retuming players; underclassmen accounted for nearly two-thirds of the Lady Bison basketbal1 team this season. And while the young team was disappointed in its losing record this year, the Lady Bisons managed to set a school record for most points scored in a game. The team pummeled Arkansas Baptist 10738 Nov. 15 at Rhodes Field House. The 69-point margin of victory was also a school record, topping a 58-point margin set in 1997. Junior Brianne Hobbs, a guard, said each player on the team contributed to the win. "Every single person on the team is capable of doing something," she said. "Everyone can score, and that puts our team at a great advantage. A lot of teamwork went into that win, and it gives us all a great feeling of accomplishment knowing that we all did our part." Sophomore Betsy Glover said the victory got them ready for the rest of the season. "It is always exciting to win your first season game," she said. "That win got us pumped up and ready for the rest of the year." -STAFF REPORTS 287 - WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
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