After suffering the first loss of the season this past Saturday, the Henderson State University Women's Basketball team wasted no time getting back to their early season winning ways as they cruised past visiting Texas A&M International University, 89-75, on Wednesday night in the Duke Wells Center.

Once again the Lady Reddies (5-1) struck first in the game as junior guard Sheay Longstaff nailed a 3-pointer on the game's first possession to give the team an early lead that they would not relinquish. In fact, the game would only be as close as a point when the score was just 3-2 as the visiting Dustdevils (3-5) hit a pair of free throws for their first points of the game. HSU had extended their lead to double digits, 15-4, before A&M International recorded their first field goal with 11:26 left in the first half.

The Lady Reddies took a 12-point lead into the locker room, 36-24. In that half, the Lady Reddies shot 46 percent (13-of-28) from the floor, and received a major scoring boost from their bench as the reserves poured in exactly half of the team's first half point total with 18 points scored.

Coming out of the break, the Dustdevils hit their first four shots and improved upon their lackluster first half shooting performance in which they shot a mere 25 percent (7-of-28). The efficient start to the second half got the Dustdevils back into the game. With 11:35 remaining in regulation, the Dustdevils cut the Lady Reddies' lead down to five points, 52-47.

Despite the lead hitting a second half low mark of five points, the Lady Reddies were able to weather the A&M push and quickly extended their lead back 15 points as they went on a 10-0 run over the next minute and a half.

The momentum from that run was sustained by the Lady Reddies as they led by double figures the rest of the way out en route to their fifth victory of the season.

Four Lady Reddies scored at least 14 points in the game with senior guard Cheree Freeman leading the way with her 17-point evening. The Pine Bluff native was 5-of-7 from the field and 7-of-10 from the free throw line. Classmate Crystal Harrison followed with 15 points, and Krystal Beachum and Joycelyn Taylor each added 14 points.

The Lady Reddies will remain at home as they are the host school for the Henderson State Women's Basketball Alumni Invitational. The invitational will take place this Friday and Saturday with two games being played each day. On Friday night, the Lady Reddies will be the nightcap as they will play Philander Smith. Tip-off is scheduled for a 7:00 p.m. start.