Still undefeated in the Great American Conference, the Henderson State Women's Basketball team now sits alone atop the GAC standings after they beat visiting University of Arkansas-Monticello, 66-56, Saturday afternoon at the Duke Wells Center.

The Lady Reddies (11-3, 4-0 GAC) controlled the game from the beginning, scoring the game's opening basket and proceeding to go on a 14-4 run over the first seven minutes of the game. That initial lead for the Lady Reddies would prove to be the only one needed for the remainder of the game. On several occasions the Cotton Blossoms (4-9, 0-3 GAC) were able to pull to within a point, but were unable to get any closer.

Turnovers in the first half by the Lady Reddies kept the Cotton Blossoms in the game. HSU committed 13 turnovers in that half. UAM also used eight free throws to supplement their 29 percent (8-of-28) shooting from the floor and went into the locker room down by three points, 29-26.

A layup for the first points of the second half threatened the Lady Reddies lead, but the team rallied for a quick 7-0 run, sparked by a clutch three-pointer from Shillallie Jones, to regain control of the game.

By the end of the game, the Lady Reddies had built and sustained a double-digit lead. The 10-point win is the Lady Reddies' 10th win by a double-figure margin.

Once more, the Lady Reddies had four players end a game in double figures, and once more Cheree Freeman was the team's leading scorer. Against UAM, Freeman scored 13 points on 4-of-10 shooting from the floor, and was a perfect 4-of-4 from the free throw line. Rookie guard Vanessa Pieper followed with a career-high 11 points while coming off the bench. Pieper was 2-of-3 from the field and was 7-of-8 from the charity stripe. Joycelyn Taylor was also productive off the bench with 10 points on 5-of-9 shooting and also led the team with eight rebounds. Jones joined Taylor in scoring 10 points. Sheay Longstaff had half of the team's 10 assists in the game. The junior guard also had six rebounds and scored five points.

As a team, the Lady Reddies shot 43 percent (23-of-53) for the game and shot 94 percent (15-of-16) from the free throw line. They also won the battle on the boards by out-rebounding the Cotton Blossoms 36-32. Every Lady Reddie to appear in the game also recorded at least one rebound.

With the conference win, the Lady Reddies are the only team yet to lose a conference game this season and will put that distinction on the line as they will play host to WBCA-ranked No. 1* Arkansas Tech on Saturday, January 21st. Tip-off is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.