triple thre Three Division I students joined the women's basketball team. From 2018 to 2019, the Harding women's basketball team had three players transfer in from various Division I schools. Graduate student Cheyenne Brown, junior Kylee Coulter and sophomore Jordan Elder came to Harding under different circumstances, but all sought a new start. "I think all three of them came to Harding wanting what we've got, so they fit in immediately," Head Women's Basketball Coach Tim Kirby said. "Being good teammates, working bard, just enjoying this atmosphere -- it's neat to watch.... You can see it on their face, in their body language and how they deal with stuff. It's been a nice change for all of them. They've been great additions." Kirby said Harding's familial atmosphere was attractive to players looking for a change. "We don't necessarily actively pursue transfers, but [we] want to give somebody an opportunity whether they've been playing for one year or three years, if they want to be a part of something like this," Kirby said. Coulter played guard and came to Harding in the fall 2019 semester after playing for the University of NebraskaOmaha for two years. "What attracted me to Harding was my familiar background with some of the girls from [amateur athletic union ball] and the family base here," Coulter said. "The coaches and the girls are really good people; I just love the community here." Coulter and Elder played against each other in travel basketball, but they became friends and teammates at Harding. Elder played guard and transferred to Harding in fall 2019 after playing at Arkansas State University for a year. She said she cared about the environment of the school more than the basketball opportunities. 246 "I thought about not playing basketball at all," Elder said. "I told my parents that I was only going to play somewhere that felt like home." Elder said Harding was exactly what she was looking for: a place to continue growing as a person and as a basketball player. "Harding shapes you to be a human being, not just a basketball player," Elder said. "There was just a feeling when I got on campus, like everybody's just different here." Brown said she experienced a similar feeling of belonging when she stepped onto Harding's campus after transferring from Northwestern State University in fall 2018. "Once I walked on campus, I knew this was where I wanted to be," Brown said. "After visiting a few more places to make sure I didn't get that feeling anywhere else, I committed, and it's the best decision I've made." Brown said she searchedfor better team chemistry and found that at Harding. "When I got here, I felt like I fit in right away," Brown said. "The girls on the team, they'remy family.They've pushed me to be the person I am and to grow in my faith. It's so special to be a part of." Brown, Coulter and Elder saidthey were immediately accepted into the Harding family, on and off the court. "It's crazy to think that the three of us went through similar things, just at different places,' Brown said. "We can relate to each other better because we've been through those things. I'm glad to be there for them, and they have brought great aspects into our team. It's awesome to be at Harding with them." story by Karli Williamson
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