Henderson State will open the 2014 Great American Conference Women's Basketball Tournament on Friday when the Lady Reddies take on Southwestern Oklahoma at Noon in Bartlesville, Okla.
 
The Lady Reddies are the 6th seed entering the tournament, having a 13-13 overall record and an 8-12 record in league play.

SWOSU enters this year's post season event as the No. 3 seed after finishing the regular-season with a record of 16-10 and a GAC mark of 13-7.
 
Henderson State and Southwestern Oklahoma split the series this season with the Bulldogs recording a 90-82 win on Jan. 16 in Weatherford, Okla. Henderson State won a thrilling double-overtime contest 101-97 on Feb. 20 in Arkadelphia, Ark.  


Krystal Beachum averaged 33.5 points and 10.5 rebounds this season against SWOSU. The senior from Mexia, Texas set a HSU and GAC record for points in a game with 41 on Feb. 20.
 
Michelle Fisher led SWOSU in the two games averaging 20.5 points including a 23-point performance in Arkadelphia.            


Southwestern Oklahoma leads the all-time series having a 5-3 record. Henderson State snapped a five-game losing streak the last time out against the Bulldogs with a 101-97 double-overtime win.
 
The two teams faced each other in last year's opening round of the GAC Tournament with Southwestern Oklahoma winning 69-59.
 
Henderson State began the season with a 12-5 record, but the Lady Reddies have lost eight of their last nine games including three straight entering the tournament.
 
Henderson State ranks third in the GAC in scoring average totaling 73.8 points per game. However, the Lady Reddies rank ninth in the GAC in scoring defense allowing 73.7 points per contest.         


Aungelique Sledge has led Henderson State in scoring all season and is the leading scorer in the GAC averaging 19.7 points per game. Sledge also leads the GAC in 3-point field goals made with 79 and steals per game averaging 3.1 per game.
 
A 38 percent shooter from beyond the arc, the junior from West Helena, Ark. also averages 6.0 rebounds per game.
 
Beachum follows Sledge averaging 15.0 points while grabbing 6.3 rebounds per game.
 
The senior from Mexia, Texas has seen limited playing time the last two games due to injury. Beachum only played five minutes in the final regular-season game against Southern Arkansas.
 
Beachum had scored 20 or more points in four straight games prior to her injury. She is questionable for the GAC Tournament.
 
If Beachum does play, she will be attempting to become only the ninth player in HSU history to score 1000 points. Beachum has totaled 996 points in 80 games played.
 
Dulincia Keener is averaging 9.0 points and a team best 8.4 rebounds per game. The sophomore from Texarkana, Ark. has totaled six double-doubles this season and has accomplished the feat in three of the last four games.            
 
Keener ranks third in the GAC in rebounds per game and is fourth in field goal percentage shooting at 53 percent from the field.     
 
Henderson State makes its third straight appearance in the GAC Tournament and is the sixth seed which is the Lady Reddies' highest seed since the league began.
 
The Lady Reddies have yet to win a GAC Tournament game.
 
Since becoming a NCAA Division II institution in 1993, Henderson State has advanced to 10 conference tournaments, recording a record of 9-8.
 
In 2004, the Lady Reddies won four straight games in the Gulf South Conference Tournament to claim their first-ever title. HSU entered the tournament as the No. 5 seed from the West Division.
 
In 2006, the Lady Reddies lost to Delta State in the GSC Championship, but avenged that loss by beating the Lady Statesmen in the Regional Championship to advance to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight.  
 
The entire Great American Conference Basketball Tournament can be seen via the internet and the GAC Sports Network at www.gacsportsnetwork.com.