ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – After a 8-12 finish in Great American Conference play in the 2012-13 season, the Henderson State University women's basketball team (2-1, 0-0 GAC) will face its first conference test on the road, squaring off against Southeastern Oklahoma State University on Thursday in Durant, Okla. and then turning around traveling to Ada, Okla. to battle East Central University on Saturday.
 
Henderson State
HSU has started strong in the 2013-14 season under the new direction of head coach Jill Thomas. The Lady Reddies are averaging 65.7 points per game, 7.4 more than their opponents. Senior Krystal Beachum (Mexia, Texas) is HSU's top offensive performer, averaging 14.0 ppg. Aungelique Sledge (Jr., West Helena, Ark.) and Tiara Davis (So., Longview, Texas) are also contributing in double figures with 13.3 and 11.3 ppg, respectively.
 
Henderson State has posted 148 rebounds, 64 coming off the offensive boards, one of the top in the GAC.
 
Southeastern Oklahoma State University
The Savage Storm won their first two games, each by only three points. In their most recent matchup against Midwestern State University, SEOSU fell short 79-72. Breana Small-Peppers, GAC's Player of the Week, averaged 17.0 points and 11.7 rebounds in the opening weeks of play, shooting 60.0 percent from the floor. Both Emily Williams and Cheree Kiser are the other double figure scores for the Savage Storm, averaging 11.3 points per game.
 
Southeastern Oklahoma State is averaging 78.3 points per game and averaging 45.0 rebounds a games, 2.7 more than their opponents.
 
The Savage Storm have committed an average of 19 turnovers per game, the third most amongst GAC teams.
 
Last Year's Meeting
HSU and SEOSU split in both of their meetings in the 2012-13 season. In the first meeting, the Lady Reddies came out on top, 77-69. In the eight-point win, Beachum contributed 13 points and Keener added eight points. Henderson State out-rebounded the Savage Storm, 40-35 and forced 18 turnovers.
 
The Lady Reddies struggled in game two, which was held in Durant, falling 74-65. Beachum (12), Pieper (11) and Sledge (10) were three of four HSU's top scorers, but the Henderson State was held to a 36.4 percent shooting from the field. SEOSU shot 41.4 percent from the field and 40 percent behind the arc to secure the win.
 
East Central University
The Lady Tigers are currently a perfect 3-0 on the year with wins over SW Christian (87-56), St. Gregory's (79-49) and Rogers State (79-48).
 
East Central is currently one of the top statistical defense teams in the conference. The Lady Tigers have held opponents to 51.0 points per game and has held their opponents to only 28 offensive rebounds.
 
Both Ashley Robison and Alycea Price are ECU's top scorers, averaging 14.3 points apiece. Price sits at a 57.1 field goal percentage, shooting 20-for-55 to open the season.
 
Last Year's Meeting
The Lady Reddies dropped both meetings to East Central last season. With HSU on its home court, the Lady Tigers edged out the Lady Reddies, 63-60. Henderson State struggled from the foul line making 15-of-24 attempts for 63 percent, while East Central was 17-of-20 for 85 percent. Game Two was in favor of the Lady Tigers with an outcome of 65-57. Vanessa Pieper (Jr., Warren, Ark.), who was one of three with a team-high 12 points, scored all of here field goals behind the arc.
 
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