Looking to better their position in the Great American Conference standings, the Henderson State Women's Basketball team traveled to Russellville, Ark. on Saturday afternoon to take on Arkansas Tech University at the Tucker Coliseum. The 14th-ranked team in Division II proved to be too much as ATU defeated HSU by a score of 79-64.

No points were scored on either side for the first three minutes of the game as each team began cold from the floor. At the 17:05 mark in the first half, Tech fired the opening salvo on a three-pointer from Katie Horsman. Following that initial bucket, the Golden Suns (19-3, 10-3 GAC) did not trail at point for the remainder of the game.

ATU lead by as much as 13 points with 1:08 left in the first half, but took an eight-point lead into the break after Krystal Beachum knocked down a three-pointer with 14 seconds remaining in the half.

At the five minute media timeout of the first half, the Lady Reddies (12-11, 5-8 GAC) had pulled to within three points, 22-18, after junior guard Sheay Longstaff knocked down back-to-back trifectas. Early in the first half, the Lady Reddies (12-11, 5-8 GAC) struggled shooting the ball as they missed nine of their first 10 shots. They would end the half 9-of-36 (25 percent) from the floor.

Tech was able to open up their lead in the second half to as much as 18 points before ending the game with a 15-point lead, 79-64. The fuel to their separation in the second half came on the strength of 55 percent shooting (16-of-29). On the other end of the court, the Lady Reddies did improve their shooting in the second half to the tune of 40 percent (12-of-30).

Four Lady Reddies would end the game in double figures. Longstaff lead the team with 13 points and was 3-of-5 from long range. Beachum came off the bench and provided 12 points. Cheree Freeman and Crystal Harrison each added 10 points. Destiny Smith was a force on the boards as she pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds, eight of which came on the defensive glass.

The Lady Reddies will now return home to play host to in-town rival Ouachita Baptist University. The second installment of the Women's Basketball Battle of the Ravine will be played at the Duke Wells Center on Monday, February 20th. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m.