Box Score Box Score

FORT SMITH, Ark. – The Henderson State women's basketball team was unable to hold on to a six-point half time lead as they eventually fell in their season opener to the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith by a score of 79-71 on Saturday afternoon at the Stubblefield Center in Fort Smith.
 
The Lady Reddies (0-1), who took a 37-31 lead into the locker room, were able to build their first half advantage on the strength of a 39% (13-of-33) shooting effort from the floor while also adding 10 made free throws. On the other end of the court, the Lady Lions (1-0) shot just 25% (8-of-31) from the floor, but 14 made free throws of their own kept them in the game.
 
After the break, HSU would hold their lead until the 15:01 mark in the second half as Tiffany Addison of UAFS made good on a pair of free throws to give the Lady Lions a one-point advantage, 46-45. The Lady Lions would maintain that lead for the next five minutes of game time before Aungelique Sledge's layup knotted the game at 53-all with 10:18 remaining in the game.
 
The two teams would battle back and forth over the next three minutes as the lead changed hands six times. The final lead change came at the 7:03 mark with the game tied at 60-all when UAFS' Brittany Holbert made good on a layup to give UAFS a two-point advantage. The Lady Lions would then go on a 10-1 run to extend that lead to 11 points.
 
That double-digit lead by the Lady Lions would prove to be too much to overcome for the Lady Reddies as they were only able to cut the deficit to seven points. The final margin would be eight points as UAFS notched the 79-71 win.
 
Three Lady Reddies scored in double figures as Shareka Maner led the team with 15 points. Maner also pulled down a game-high 19 rebounds to record her first double-double of the year. Krystal Beachum and Destiny Smith were behind Maner in scoring as each ended with 14 points.
 
Henderson State will now focus on their home opener against LeTourneau University on Wednesday, November 14th. Tip-off for the game is set for 6:00 pm at the Duke Wells Center.