In the highest scoring game involving a Henderson State women's basketball team, the Lady Reddies lost to Oklahoma Panhandle State 125-111, Saturday in Goodwell, Okla.
The combination of 236 points by the two teams are the most ever involving a Lady Reddie team. The previous record was 193 points when Henderson State lost to Arkansas-Monticello 107-86 on Feb. 20, 1999.
Henderson's 111 points are the most points ever scored by a losing team in a non-overtime game in NCAA Division II history. The previous record was 106 points set by four teams with the last occurring on Feb. 10, 1997 by Mars Hill.
Henderson State, 7-3 on the season, shot 61 percent from the field making 47-of-77 shots. OPSU, however, hit a school record 20 three-point buckets on 45 attempts for 44 percent shooting from beyond the arc.
The game was tied at 51-51 at halftime, but the Lady Aggies caught fire in the second half hitting 15-of-31 shots from beyond the arc as OPSU went on scoring runs of 18-2 and 10-0 in the final 20 minutes.
Five Lady Reddies scored in double figures led by Crystal Harrison who scored 24 points including going 11-for-11 from the floor.
Joycelyn Taylor scored 22 points and grabbed a team-best 7 rebounds, while Shillalie Jones and Cheree Freeman both scored 12 points. Sheay Longstaff also scored in double-figures with 11 points.
OPSU, 3-9 on the year, was led by Quinae Thomas' 21 points, while five other Lady Aggies scored in double-figures.
The Lady Reddies struggled from the foul line making just 54 percent converting just 13-of-24 attempts, while the Lady Aggies hit 31-of-42 shots for 74 percent from the charity stripe.
“There are a lot of positives that we can take from this game;” said Coach Chris Oestreich. “This game helped us get back in shape after the seven-day break for Christmas, we shot well from the field, and we hit the boards better. We will take a day off and we will be ready for conference play next week.”
The Lady Reddies will return to the floor on Thursday when Henderson plays host to Southwestern Oklahoma to begin Great American Conference action at the Duke Wells Center with tip-off set for 5:30 p.m.
