Harden explained that the Saints are just a state title away from achieving their 2010-11 goals of an undefeated season and a state championship. Aquinas is 20-0 going into postseason play next week.
"We just take it one game at a time," Harden said. "That way we won't get overwhelmed. We try to focus on that next game and not on the second game coming up. We're always talking about the things we did wrong, so we don't think we're a perfect team. Coach (Rick Hetzel) is a perfectionist. He gets mad about every little thing."
Harden considers herself to be the team's peacemaker, the one that distributes the ball and builds confidence in her teammates. In doing so, she hopes that her teammates will know how to react should the Saints play their way into the title game again this year.
By no means is Harden a cocky basketball player. She is modest. However, she does not lack self-confidence.
"I want to be a freshman All-American," Harden was quick to point out when asked of goals she may be prepared to lay out for her inaugural season in Norman. "I want to be the freshman Player of the Year. I just want to win a lot. Winning is a big deal. If I lose I get really mad."
Just when he thinks he's seen it all, Hetzel is sometimes bewildered by Harden's ability to get the ball in to her teammates. It's usually not until he watches game film that he realizes how she threaded the needle at times. Even then, it can be hard to digest.
For Coale, Harden's ability to score makes her the threat that she is today.
"Not only is she a great passer," Coale said, "she's a scorer too. The fact that she can score at any time makes her that much more effective. Being a great passer goes only so far. They have to respect her. She has the ability to find people and get the ball to them in a position where they can do something with it."
Last Monday, in a 49-37 win over Blue Valley Northwest, Harden set a standard for career steals at the school, providing evidence that her defense is stellar as well. Harden surpassed Jacquie Rzeszut's career mark of 334 steals set from 1995-99.
When Harden hangs up her Aquinas jersey at the conclusion of the 2010-11 season, she will be joining former Derby post Joanna McFarland in Norman. She will step in and hope to immediately replace Sooner guards Danielle Robinson and Lauren Willis, who played for Hetzel from 2003-07.
The entire Saints squad attended Oklahoma's 75-57 win over Kansas in Lawrence in January. But Harden hasn't been in much contact with either Sunflower State Sooner since.
Harden, a fan of the NBA, often tries to pick up tips by watching her favorite players. But she gets her inspiration from her mother's words of wisdom.
"She randomly texts me stuff before each game," Harden said of her mother. "Things like, ‘You can do anything if you put your mind to it.' And, ‘You can if you think you can.'"
If an opposing player tries to get in Harden's way, her objective is to do something that will make that defender less confident. But once the game is over, Harden leaves everything on the court.
"Coach Hetzel taught me that you go out and play … and you play hard," she said. "But you don't beat your opponent to embarrass them. Afterwards you help them and you pick them up."
