ARKADELPHIA, Ark. — Henderson State got a career-high 35 points from Maci Mains and used a huge second half effort to defeat Southern Arkansas 93-84 in its 2021 season opener at the Duke Wells Center on Thursday night. 

Mains was the story for HSU, as she finished 13-of-23 from the floor to pour in 35 points — the most in a single game for a Reddie player since Pink Jones scored 37 against Southeastern Oklahoma State in February of 2018. Karrington Whaley turned in 16 points and 11 rebounds for her first double-double of the year, Tamia Templeton had the best game of her young career with 14 points and seven rebounds, and freshman Jadah Pickens added nine points and 11 rebounds in her first collegiate game. 

Despite being down two starters due to COVID-19 protocols, the Reddies (1-0) traded punches with the deeper Muleriders valiantly through the first 20 minutes of play. HSU got 16 first half points from Mains to hang around and trailed just 45-42 at the break.

The third quarter was a period of runs, as SAU began the second half with a 13-2 spurt to seize a 58-46 advantage at the 7:59 mark. The remainder of the quarter belonged to Henderson, however, as the Reddies put together a massive 24-6 stretch to close out the frame and go in front 70-64 heading to the fourth.

Back-to-back 3-pointers from Mains and Gracie Raby increased the HSU lead to 76-67 to begin the final period, but SAU's Kylie Warren answered back with two threes of her own to trim the Reddies' lead down to just 76-75 with 5:38 left in the game. 

Needing a response, Henderson got it from two freshmen, as Pickens completed an old-fashioned 3-point play and Annie Coffey hit a corner 3-pointer to restore the momentum for HSU. The veterans took it home from there for the Reddies. Mains, Whaley and Lani Snowden scored the final 11 points of the contest for Henderson to help it pull away in the final minutes for the 93-84 win.

HSU out-rebounded a bigger SAU squad 56-49 in the victory and hit on 47.8% of its shots, compared to just 35.2% shooting for the Muleriders. The Reddies out-scored Southern Arkansas 47-26 after falling behind by 12 points in the third quarter.

Henderson returns to action on Saturday at 2 p.m. when it faces Arkansas Tech on the road in Russellville, Arkansas.