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ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Henderson State, with the help of Maci Mains' career-high 35 points, kicked off its season with a big 93-84 victory over Southern Arkansas this past Thursday, setting the tone for the rest of the season.
 
"It was a complete team effort. We talked a lot about it after the game, whether it was zero minutes or 36 minutes, I thought everyone played a huge role as far as putting the team first," Henderson State head coach Jill Thomas said. "We have been preaching to this young team that if you work hard and you buy-in and you do it together you can have some success so that was really good for this young group to see."
 
 The Reddies will now head to Russellville, Arkansas for their second game of the season on Saturday, where they will take on the Arkansas Tech Golden Suns at 2 p.m.
 
"Transition defense is going to be huge. [We have to] get them slowed down in that transition," Thomas said. "We want to see some of our half-court offense really explode and make some of the right reads. Tucker Coliseum is a very hard place to play. This young group is going to have to come from a big win and let it go into being focused [on tomorrow's game]."
 
REDDIES REPORT
- Henderson State kicked off its 2021 campaign in style on Thursday with a nine-point victory over the Muleriders of Southern Arkansas. Along with the career-night from Mains, HSU saw double-digit points from Karrington Whaley (16) and Tamia Templeton (14). The Reddies also received great contribution from freshman Jadah Pickens as she tallied nine points and 11 rebounds in her collegiate debut.
 
- Arkansas Tech won the last meeting between the two clubs in a nail-biter, prevailing 87-85 back in January of 2020. The last 10 meetings show a slight edge to ATU with the Golden Suns having won six of those meetings. Henderson has won three of the last four meetings between the teams, but the last time HSU defeated its conference-rival inside Tucker Coliseum was December 1, 2018.
 
- Henderson State and Arkansas Tech enter this game atop the GAC's western division standings at 1-0 and 2-0, respectively. The western standings are rounded out with Harding, Ouachita Baptist, Arkansas-Monticello, and Southern Arkansas.
 
- Senior Karrington Whaley comes into this contest with 106 blocks in her career. Whaley needs two blocks to become the all-time blocks leader at Henderson State. Whaley secured 3 blocks in HSU's season opener.
 
SCOUTING ARKANSAS TECH
- Arkansas Tech has two games under its belt, having kicked off its 2021 season with a non-conference game against Champion Christian College on January 2. ATU has won its two games by a combined score of 143-70, including its conference opener against Arkansas-Monticello where the Golden Suns won 63-30.
 
- Despite not shooting the three-ball particularly well against UAM (1-of-8), Arkansas Tech shot 41.8% (25-61) from the field and 67.6% (12-18) from the free throw line. Ashlei Lopez led all Tech scorers with 16, followed by Kaley Shipman with 15. Lopez is averaging 18.5 points per game on the season.
 
- Arkansas Tech head coach Dave Wilbers enters his 14th season as the top guy in Russellville, Arkansas. Wilbers claimed his 300th victory against UAM, bringing his all-time record at ATU to 300-93 for a winning percentage of 76.3%.