RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Henderson State women's basketball team was picked to finish sixth overall in the upcoming 2021-22 season via the Great American Conference Preseason Poll.
The Reddies were third among Arkansas teams in the poll after receiving 72 total votes, coming in behind Arkansas Tech with 108 votes and Harding with 83 votes.
Henderson returns 10 players from last year's team, starting with fifth-year seniors
Lani Snowden and
Karrington Whaley. In addition to Snowden and Whaley, leading scorers
Maci Mains and
Ashley Farrar are back for another stint.
The 2020-21 squad was playing some of its best basketball down the stretch before having its season canceled due to Covid prior to the GAC Quarterfinals, winning four of its final five regular season games, including beating then-No. 14 Arkansas Tech.
"Last year brought so many ups and downs, yet we still found a way to start playing some of our best basketball late in the season," head coach
Jill Thomas said. "We have added five new faces for this upcoming season and [I] truly feel we have some depth to work with this year. I am excited to see this group come together and compete in what I consider to be the toughest year this league has seen."
Last season's preseason poll had HSU tabbed to finish in a tie for sixth overall with Southern Arkansas – third in the Eastern division. The Reddies responded to that by claiming the second seed in the East and a first-round bye in the GAC Tournament.
"To reach our full potential this season, we are going to have to become more consistent this season in understanding the importance of every day and every detail," Thomas said. "The top five teams in the preseason rankings have all won regular season or conference tournament championships in the last five years. Therefore, we need to be ready to battle every day."
The battle begins Friday, November 12 when Henderson travels to Joplin, Missouri, to take on Missouri Southern at 7:30 p.m. for the GAC/MIAA Conference Challenge. The Reddies will then take on Emporia State on Saturday at 1 p.m.
| Team |
Total Votes |
First Place Votes |
| Southwestern Oklahoma State |
111 |
5 |
| Arkansas Tech |
108 |
3 |
| Southern Nazarene |
101 |
3 |
| Southeastern Oklahoma State |
99 |
1 |
| Harding |
83 |
|
| Henderson State |
72 |
|
| East Central |
54 |
|
| Ouachita Baptist |
44 |
|
| Oklahoma Baptist |
40 |
|
| Southern Arkansas |
40 |
|
| Northwestern Oklahoma State |
28 |
|
| Arkansas-Monticello |
12 |
|
