After securing two home wins, the Henderson State women’s basketball program will travel to Magnolia, Ark. to face in-state foe Southern Arkansas on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. inside the W.T. Watson Athletic Center.
REDDIES REPORT
Henderson (8-6, 5-3) scored big in the second half, putting up 49 points on its way to an 85-65 victory over Southwestern Oklahoma State. Ashley Farrar led the way with 30 points and was one of four players to record double-digit points.
Against SWOSU, the Reddies outrebound the Lady Bulldogs 47-28 and scored 14 points off second-chance opportunities. HSU currently ranks in the league’s top half in rebounds, averaging 39.9 a game, which is the fifth-best in the GAC. Abbie Jiles leads the team in defensive rebounds with 68, while Bobbi Bazzle has a team-high 34 offensive rebounds.
Jill Thomas’ team has shot the ball well lately, shooting a combined 44.8 percent from the field against Northwestern and Southwestern Oklahoma State. For the season, the Reddies are converting 37.7 percent from the field and 33.2 percent from the three-point line.
Henderson’s three-point defense will be tested against SAU, who leads all Division II in triples made per game (14.0). However, HSU does not give many clean looks from beyond the arc, with opponents only shooting 27.6 percent at the three-point line. In Henderson’s eight wins, teams are averaging just 3.4 triples a game.
In the first meeting this season, Henderson and Southern Arkansas played in a high-scoring overtime thriller, which the Reddies won 98-90. Farrar scored a game-high and career-high 44 points in the team’s win. HSU has a good record inside the W.T. Watson Athletic Center with seven victories and four defeats, though the last two meetings in Magnolia have gone the Muleriders way.
SCOUTING SOUTHERN ARKANSAS
In the Muleriders’ last outing, they defeated Southeastern Oklahoma State 74-59 to get their second league win of the season and snap a two-game losing streak. The win over the Savage Storm improves SAU to 6-8 overall and 2-6 in the GAC.
Southern Arkansas’s number one three-point attack made 21 triples in its win over the Savage Storm while shooting 44.7 percent from deep. SAU is averaging 39.9 three-point attempts a game which is the most for any team across Division II women’s basketball. The Muleriders had 47 attempts from beyond the arc against Southeastern Oklahoma State.
Another staple of SAU’s game is its high press. The Muleridres have forced turnovers all season when they press high up the court, as opponents are averaging 25.0 turnovers a game. Diamond Morris leads the team with 26 steals and is one of five players to record 20 or more.
