ARKADELPHIA, Ark. — Henderson State will look to win back-to-back conference matchups when it welcomes the Southern Nazarene Crimson Storm to the Duke Wells Center for a Saturday matinee at 1 p.m.
REDDIES REPORT
- Henderson State (8-3, 3-2) snapped a two-game conference losing streak in the victory over OKBU on Thursday. Karrington Whaley tied a career-high with 22 points on just 12 shot attempts and was one of four Reddies in double-figures in the win. Whaley also pulled down 10 rebounds to notch her third double-double of the season.
- Joining Whaley with a double-double was senior Hailey Estes who scored 13 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. The victory marked the fourth time Whaley and Estes have finished with double-doubles in the same game. The Reddies are 4-0 in those contests.
- Estes continues to be one of the most complete players in the Great American Conference. The senior leads the GAC in rebounding (9.6 per game) and 3-pointers made (3.4 per game) while ranking in the Top-10 in scoring (15.2 points per game), steals (2.5 per game), and 3-point percentage (38.9%).
- Fellow senior Pink Jones was one rebound short of becoming the third Reddie with a double-double as she finished with 15 points on 6-for-8 shooting. Jones is now 13-for-19 from the field in her last two contests.
- Junior Lani Snowden helped the Reddies ice Thursday night's contest as she scored 11 of her 15 points in the fourth quarter including three 3-pointers in less than 90 seconds. Snowden is second in the conference in 3-point percentage (47.9%) and sixth in 3-pointers made (2.1 per game).
- Despite the use of a four guard lineup, the Reddies continue to be one of the best rebounding teams in the GAC. HSU ranks second only to Harding in team rebounds per game with 43.6. Henderson State dominated the glass against OKBU, out-rebounding the Bison 42 to 25.
HENDERSON STATE MILESTONE WATCH
- Hailey Estes needs 17 rebounds to pass Dulincia Keener and become Henderson State's all-time leader in career rebounds.
- Pink Jones needs three assists to become the second player in HSU history to total 400 in a career.
SCOUTING SOUTHERN NAZARENE
- Southern Nazarene, (7-2, 4-1) was one of the surprise teams of the 2018-19 season and appear to be a conference championship contender this year. Second year head coach Trent May has completely turned around the Crimson Storm program. Before May's arrival last year, SNU had amassed a 37-69 record in the previous five seasons. May led SNU to a third place finish in the conference last year and an appearance in the Great American Conference semifinal where they fell in overtime to Arkansas Tech, 87-84.
- Southern Nazarene led the GAC in scoring defense last season, allowing opponents to score 61 points per game. Through five conference games, SNU has been even stingier. Opposing offenses are scoring just 58 points per game against the Crimson Storm. The next best defense in the conference is allowing 64.6 points per game.
- SNU's defense is led by reigning GAC Defensive Player on of the Year Abby Niehues, who is averaging a league leading 2.2 blocks per game. Right behind her in that category is Myriam Garcia who is swatting 2.1 shots per game.
- Offensively, the Crimson Storm are led by sophomore Jaycee Soap who leads SNU in scoring with 12 points per game. Soap has improved her efficiency in conference play, shooting 53% from the field after combining to shoot just 31% in non-conference action.
