BOLIVAR, Mo. — Henderson State controlled the action against Southwest Baptist on Friday evening on its way to a 96-83 season-opening win.

The Reddies (1-0) got excellent guard play from Pink Jones, Blu Jones, and Hailey Estes, as the trio combined for 66 of the Reddies' 82 points on an efficient 58.1 percent shooting from the field. Karrington Whaley notched a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds while tallying two steals and a blocked shot. Freshman Maci Mains scored seven points on 3-of-6 shooting in her first action for the Reddies, while Lani Snowden added six points and was 2-for-3 from beyond the 3-point line in the Henderson victory. 

Henderson will take the floor tomorrow at 5 p.m. against the University of Sioux Falls in the second game of the Southwest Baptist Classic. 

1st Quarter
The Reddies got off to a scorching start and had their biggest lead of the first half after a Snowden 3-pointer and two Pink Jones layups made it 25-12. SWB cut the lead to 27-21 with a quick run, but the Reddies threw the last punch of the quarter, as Pink Jones sunk two foul shots to give the Reddies a 29-21 advantage after the 1st. 

2nd Quarter
HSU's offense was unable to keep up its rapid pace in the second, as the Bearcats clawed their way back into the game, eventually tying the score at 33-33 with 4:28 to go in the half. However, Blu Jones gave Henderson a bit of breathing room with two 3-pointers in one minute, as the Reddies pushed their lead back to six, 39-33. The Reddies took that six-point advantage into the locker room, 46-40. Pink Jones led the Reddies at the break with 14 points, while Blu Jones had 11 on perfect 4-for-4 shooting, including 3-for-3 from the 3-point line. 

3rd Quarter
Southwest Baptist came out of the intermission firing and used a 9-2 run to pull in front for the first time since the game's opening moments, 49-48. The Reddies were quick to respond, however, as an 8-0 run, highlighted by 3-pointers from Estes and Snowden, put HSU back in front, 56-49. Both teams went back-and-forth, but a Pink Jones buzzer-beating layup at the end of the quarter put the Reddies up 72-63 heading into the final period. 

4th Quarter
The Reddies kept the Bearcats at bay in the final frame, as back-to-back three's from Brittany Branum and Estes put the Reddies in front 80-69 with 6:42 to play. SWB cut the deficit down to seven, but an 11-2 Reddies run, highlighted by Estes' fifth 3-pointer of the night, effectively sealed the game as the Reddies had a 91-75 lead with 2:20 to play. Estes poured in 17 points in the 2nd half, as the Reddies won their first game of the season 96-83.