Box Score

 
GAME PHOTOS

Henderson State could not overcome a 13-1 run by Arkansas Tech midway through the second half as the Reddies lost to the Golden Suns, 96-84 in the opening round of the Great American Conference Women's Basketball Tournament in Bartlesville, Okla.

Jasmine Settles ended her career in record-breaking fashion setting a HSU and GAC record for points in a game with 44. Settles passed Krystal Beachum's mark of 41 points to set the HSU record, and Southern Nazarene's Aminata Fall's 43 points to set the new GAC standard.

The senior from Memphis, Tenn. hit 9-of-13 three-point field goals, setting a HSU record while tying the GAC record for trifectas in a game.

The Reddies had a tough time offensively to begin the game as Arkansas Tech jumped out to a 19-6 lead as the Golden Suns hit nine of their first 11 shots, while Henderson State converted on 2-of-9 shots from the field to begin the game.

"We just had a tough time getting started," said Henderson State head coach Jill Thomas. "Outside of Jasmine, we could not get into any offensive rhythm."

Settles and Dulincia Keener helped cut the deficit to five points at 31-26 with 8:22 left in the half with Settles hitting a pair of 3-point field goals scoring 12 point during the run. Keener would add a pair of layups and grabbed three rebounds.

Arkansas Tech pushed its lead back to 12 before Annie Thomas and Settles hit back-to-back trifectas to draw within six at 42-36 with 3:21 left in the half.

However, the Golden Suns ended the half outscoring the Reddies 8-3 to take a 50-39 lead at the break.

In the second-half, Henderson would chip away at the Arkansas Tech lead and cut the deficit to one possession on several occasions.

Henderson trailed 64-62 at the 12:05 mark as Settles scored 11 straight points for the Reddies including making three 3-pointers, with Victoria Stewart making it a two-point game with a three-pointer of her own.

Again Arkansas Tech would go on another run outscoring the Reddies 13 to 1 over the next four minutes to make the score 77-63.

Henderson would try to fight back getting a long range jumper by Haleigh Henson and three more by Settles but it would be enough as Arkansas Tech's Fatima Adams and Katrina Hayden would combine for 16 points down the stretch.

"We didn't play well defensively, but we were able to cut it down to one possession a couple of times," Thomas said. "Every time we got it close, Tech would go on a 10 to 12 point run and we couldn't get over the hump."

Aside from Settles' big performance, Keener finished with 19 points and 9 rebounds with Stewart and Henson finishing with 6 points each.
Adams had 35 points to lead Arkansas Tech.

The Reddies finished the game shooting 49 percent from the field making 29-of-59 shots from the field. Henderson State hit on 54 percent from beyond the arc making 13-of-24 three-pointers.

Arkansas Tech, 22-5 on the year, made 38-of-78 shots from the floor for 49 percent.

"We got to fix some things for next year," Thomas added. "I am proud of this team and really proud of what these seniors did for our program."