Box Score Box Score

MAGNOLIA, Ark. – The Henderson State women's basketball enjoyed a sizable lead for much of the game, but it did not turn into a blowout win as the Lady Reddies were forced to hold on for a 62-59 win over Southern Arkansas on Saturday afternoon in the W.T. Watson Athletic Center.
 
The Lady Reddies (5-2, 3-1 GAC) took a 17-point lead in to the break and held a lead as large as 19 points with 16:26 remaining in the game before the Lady Muleriders (0-7, 0-4 GAC) began to chip away at the Lady Reddies' lead. 
 
SAU pulled to within 12 points at the 10:46 mark in the second half on a three-point basket by Katherine McBride. A quick 5-0 Lady Reddie run over the next minute and a half swelled the lead back out to 17 points, 50-33. From there, the Lady Muleriders made four of their next five shots, including a pair of three-pointers, to cut their deficit to single digits, 52-43. It was the first time since the 12:32 mark in the first half that the Lady Reddies did not hold a double-digit lead.
 
With 2:05 remaining in the game, SAU completed their methodical comeback as they knotted the game at 56-all on a made layup by McBride, who was also fouled on the play. McBride made good on her ensuing free throw attempt, giving the Lady Muleriders just their second lead of the game. Their first lead came on the game's initial basket.
 
On the Lady Reddies' ensuing possession, Destiny Smith was fouled with HSU playing in the double bonus. Smith nailed both of her attempts to regain the lead for Henderson, 58-57. After a go-ahead SAU layup, Smith answered with a go-ahead layup of her own with 26 seconds remaining in the game.
 
A foul by Aungelique Sledge with 21 seconds remaining put SAU's Kathryn Odom on the line with a chance to tie the game and also to go ahead as SAU was in the single bonus. Odom drew rim on the front end of the one-and-one, and Shareka Maner pulled down the defensive board. Odom then committed a foul with 17 seconds left to put Jill Temples to line. Temples missed both attempts and SAU's Tori Nichols came away with the rebound.
 
With a chance to have the final possession of the game, Odom got a look for the Lady Muleriders, but missed and the ball caromed out of bounds, giving possession back to the Lady Reddies with 11 seconds remaining. A last-stitch foul by SAU sent Smith to the line for the Lady Reddies. Smith, who was 8-of-10 from the charity stripe to that point, made good on both of her attempts to give the Lady Reddies a three-point lead, 62-59. That score would become the final score as SAU missed their final shot attempt of the game.
 
Smith led all scorers with 16 points, 10 of which came from the charity stripe. Krystal Beachum, behind a 7-of-12 shooting effort from the floor, was the game's second leading scorer with 14 points. Smith and Maner each led the team with eight rebounds.
 
The Lady Reddies will now enter into a 10-day break before their next action as they will play host to Texas A&M-Commerce on Tuesday, December 18th. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:00 pm in the Duke Wells Center.