ARKADELPHIA, Ark. — Henderson State fell behind early on Thursday night to Southern Nazarene, but the Reddies out-scored the Crimson Storm 23-11 in the second quarter and 23-17 in the third to break open the game, as they cruised to their first GAC win of the season, 79-66.

The Reddies trailed 18-15 after one quarter but took over the game in the second, where they held SNU to just 11 points and got two late 3-pointers from Lani Snowden to seize the momentum, and a 38-29 advantage, at the break.

In the third period Henderson did not slow down, and after the Crimson Storm cut the deficit to 44-41 with 5:54 left in the quarter, the Reddies responded with a 17-5 run to end it, putting themselves up 61-46 heading into the game's final 10 minutes. SNU cut the lead down to 12 on a 3-pointer early in the fourth, but Haleigh Henson slammed the door for Henderson with back-to-back 3-pointers of her own to help HSU pull away for the convincing victory.

Henderson got a true team effort in the win, as four Reddies finished in double figures. Pink Jones led the way with 18 points and 11 rebounds, while Henson added 16 points and four assists. Hailey Estes notched a double-double of her own with 15 points and 10 boards and freshman Karrington Whaley had the best game of her young college career, as she finished with 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting with seven rebounds. As a team, the Reddies forced 23 Crimson Storm turnovers and took advantage of them by scoring 30 points off of those SNU errors.

The win is the Reddies' first conference victory of the season and moves them to 3-3 overall and 1-2 in GAC play. Henderson will look to continue its winning ways on Saturday at 1 p.m. when it faces Oklahoma Baptist in the Duke Wells Center.