ARKADELPHIA, Ark. — The 2016-17 season was a tough one for the Henderson State women's basketball program, as a young team with four true freshman starters for most of the year struggled down the stretch and missed the Great American Conference (GAC) tournament. Despite last season's struggles, the 2017-18 Reddies are more confident than ever, and with its talented young playmakers a full year more experienced, Henderson is ready to flip the script on the GAC this winter. The road begins this weekend, when Henderson faces off with Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) foes Southwest Baptist on Friday at 5:30 p.m. and Northwest Missouri State on Saturday at noon, with both games in Bolivar, Missouri, as a part of the SBU Classic.

Every player that saw action last season returns for HSU in 2017-18. Leading those returners is three-year starting guard Haleigh Henson, who heads into her senior year as Henderson's career leader in 3-pointers with 212 to her credit. Henson finished third in the GAC in minutes played in 2016-17 (35.4) and needs just 57 more 3-pointers to become the most prolific 3-point shooter in GAC history and 94 points to break 1000 total for her career.

Henson will have dynamic young talents alongside her again for her final year, as two freshman standouts from last season return in Pink Jones and Hailey Estes. Jones was the 2016-17 GAC Freshman of the Year after leading the Reddies in scoring and finishing eighth in the GAC with 13.8 points per game, while also terrorizing opposing ball handlers on the defensive end of the court to the tune of two steal per game. Estes, who started all but one game for HSU as a true freshman, can play virtually any spot on the court for Henderson and averaged 11.8 points and a team-high 7.8 rebounds per game last season while also knocking down 75 threes.

Down low, the Reddies will be anchored by senior forward Bree Bossier and junior forward Brittany Branum, who have each seen their fair share of minutes over the course of their careers at Henderson. Bossier, who averaged just under five points per game in 2016-17, had the highest scoring game of her college career against Southwest Baptist last season, when she scored 16 points on 7-of-13 shooting from the floor. Branum started in 20 of the Reddies' 28 contests as a sophomore, averaged 9.5 points and 4.9 rebounds per game and proved to be a valuable asset at the free throw line, where she shot 84.5 percent for the year — the seventh-best individual percentage in the GAC.

Quality depth will be key for Henderson in 2017-18, as the Reddies also return defensive stand-out Blu Jones, sharp-shooter Torrie Thompson and experienced post Lexis Weber, who will all see minutes this season. Additionally, some new faces will look to make an impact for HSU sooner rather than later. Freshmen Lani Snowden, from Van Buren, Karrington Whaley, from Springdale, and Lexi Tejcek, from Hot Springs, will get their chance for the Reddies, as will junior transfer Jasmine Cashaw, who redshirted the 2016-17 season after coming to Henderson from Ouachita Baptist.

Scouting Southwest Baptist
The Bearcats, who defeated the Reddies in the 2016-17 season opener 94-88 in overtime, are led by senior guard and All-MIAA Second Team selection, Megan Rosenbohm, who averaged 16.8 points per game as a junior and started in 28 games for SBU. Rosenbahm put up a season-high 35 points against HSU in last year's match-up between the two schools. Southwest also brings back junior forward Caylee Richardson, who averaged 11.5 points per game last season on nearly 61 percent shooting from the floor and was the MIAA Freshman of the year in 2015-16. The Bearcats are coming off of back-to-back winning season for the first time since 2006-07 and 2007-08.

Scouting Northwest Missouri State
The Bearcats of Northwest Missouri enter 2017-18 after a 9-18 season, which saw them finish 4-15 in the MIAA. Northwest, who defeated Henderson 81-66 in last year's match-up at the SBU Classic, brings back its best player, senior forward Tanya Meyer, who was an All-MIAA Second Team selection in 2016-17 and averaged 19.6 points and an MIAA-leading 9.9 rebounds per game. The Bearcats have not had a winning record since 2012-13 but improved their 2015-16 record by four wins last season.