The Henderson State women's basketball team will begin the 2014-15 season on Saturday when the Reddies travel to Rolla, Mo. to take on Missouri S&T with the opening tip set for 6 p.m.
Henderson State will be led by senior
Aungelique Sledge who led the Great American Conference in scoring last season, averaging 19.6 points per game, and also averaged 3.2 steals per game to lead the Reddies.
Sledge returns as Henderson's record holder for most 3-point field goals made in a season, as she knocked down 82 a season ago.
Senior
Ariana Caffey started four games in the 2013-14 season, and will provide depth at guard.
Junior forward
Dulincia Keener averaged 8.8 points and returns as the team's leading rebounder, having averaged 8.4 in 2013-14.
The Texarkana, Ark. product shot 53 percent from the field a year ago, which ranked third in the GAC.
Eight newcomers, seven of them freshmen, highlight a strong recruiting class by head coach
Jill Thomas.
Former All-State performers
Deidra McCoy and
Haleigh Henson will contribute immediately at the guard position.
McCoy was the 2013-14 Garland County Player of the Year, and led the conference in rebounds per game.
True freshman
Makyndra Simmons averaged eight points and five rebounds and helped lead her team to a 30-4 record during her senior season, and will see playing time at the forward position for the Reddies.
Adding depth to the guard position is
Victoria Stewart, who transfers from Meridian Community College, where she averaged 15 points and five rebounds per game and led her team to a 19-5 record last season.
Other players hoping to contribute this season are guards
Annie Thomas and
Ariana Marks and forwards
Dani Cowley and
Bree Bossier.
The Reddies finished the 2013-14 campaign with an overall record of 13-14 and an 8-12 GAC record under Thomas.
Missouri S&T returns only two players from last year's team that finished with a 9-18 record.
Live stats and live video will be available through the Henderson State Athletic website at www.hsusports.com.
Henderson State's home opener will be on Monday, as the Reddies take on Texas A&M-Commerce at the Duke Wells Center, with tipoff slated for 5:30 p.m.
