For the first time since the 2005-06 season, the Henderson State Women's Basketball has started a season 3-0 in league play after a 78-64 road win over Southeastern Oklahoma State University. Heading into the Thursday night conference clash, the two teams were the only teams to be 2-0 in the GAC, and now the Lady Reddies are the first team to three conference wins and are also the first to 10 wins overall.

A strong shooting performance by the Lady Reddies (10-3, 3-0 GAC) to the tune of 50 percent (15-of-30) in the second half, and an even better success rate from the free throw line (11-of-12, 92%) were key to their ability to pull away from the Savage Storm (6-7, 2-1 GAC).

Most of the game, particularly the first half, was closely contested. In that opening period, there were three tie scores and four lead changes. The Lady Reddies held the largest lead of nine points about halfway through the half, but only took a one-point lead to the locker room.

Coming out of the break, the Savage Storm would take their final lead of the game as the team's leading scorer on the season, Whitney Coffey hit a three-pointer to give SOSU a two-point lead, 35-33. The lead would be very short-lived as the Lady Reddies answered back on the ensuing possession with Shillallie Jones knocking down a three-pointer of her own. Jones' trey sparked a 6-0 run that established control of the game for the Lady Reddies.

The Savage Storm would get as close as two-points after the HSU run, but the Lady Reddies maintained a comfortable lead throughout and cruised to another double-digit win, their ninth win by 10 or more points this season.

Leading the way for the Lady Reddies was senior guard Cheree Freeman. The Pine Bluff, Ark. native recorded a double-double with 24 points and 10 rebounds. She also had a pair of steals and a blocked shot. The 24-point effort from Freeman set an individual career-high for points in a game. Her previous career high was 22 points, a mark set earlier this season against Alabama-Huntsville (11-26-11).

For the game, Freeman was 8-of-21 (38 percent) from the floor, but was perfect from the charity stripe, shooting 7-of-7. Four of her seven made free throws came on a momentum-shifting technical foul that was called on the Southeastern bench with 3:06 remaining in the game. The technical followed a foul that was already sending Freeman to the line for a pair of shots. With Freeman making good on all four free throws, the Lady Reddies built their largest lead of the game, 14 points. They would go on to win by that margin as well.

Freeman was not alone in having a career night against SOSU. Jill Temples came off the bench and provided a scoring spark for the Lady Reddies. The junior guard made four shots in the game, all from beyond the arc, en route to her setting a career-high in points in a game with 15. She also ended the game with four assists and an equal amount of rebounds.

Crystal Harrison, who was second in the GAC in field goal percentage coming into the game, missed just one shot as she finished with 10 points on 4-of-5-shooting (80 percent).

The Lady Reddies return home to the Duke Wells Center for a key conference matchup against UA-Monticello on Saturday, January 14th. Tip-off for the contest is set for 2:00 p.m.