MAGNOLIA, Ark. — Henderson State got a career-high 34 points from Lani Snowden and scored the most points in a single game for the program since 2019, but it was not enough, as Southern Arkansas's high-flying offense won the day and handed the Reddies a 112-99 loss on the road.

Snowden was phenomenal and finished 12-of-16 from the floor and 7-of-9 from beyond the arc. Karrington Whaley had 19 points on 9-for-11 shooting and added seven rebounds.

It was a nightmarish start for the Reddies on the road, as Southern Arkansas jumped out to a 10-0 lead less than three minutes into the game. SAU extended its advantage out to 19-8 at the 3:26 mark of the first quarter, but Henderson refused to go away and got a big boost from Jadah Pickens, who scored seven points off the bench to spur a 13-6 run over the remainder of the period and close the gap to just 25-21 after one.

After shooting 38.1% in the first quarter, the lid came off the basket for HSU in the second. The Reddies shot 58.8% in the period (10-of-17) to stay within striking distance of SAU's explosive offense and trailed just 50-46 at the break. Snowden had 11 of her points in the first half to help buoy Henderson.

The Muleriders came out firing in the third and used two quick 3-pointers, and three shots at the foul line, to help stretch their lead back out to double figures, 68-58, at the five-minute mark. Suddenly down by 10 again, the Reddies almost immediately responded thanks to Snowden, who connected on back-to-back 3-pointers to fuel an 8-2 spurt and close the gap down to 70-66 with 3:33 to go in the quarter. 

The last three minutes of the period were helter-skelter, as both sides scored at will and traded baskets on both ends. Henderson continued its climb back and was able to tie the game, 80-80, with under a minute left in the quarter on a layup by Whaley, but the Muleriders closed on a 4-0 run to take an 84-80 advantage into the fourth. Both teams scored 34 points in the third quarter and the Reddies shot 68% from the field (15-for-22).

In what had been a back-and-forth game, the start of the final period was all Southern Arkansas. The Muleriders opened the period with an 11-2 run to seize their largest lead of the game, 95-82, with under six minutes to play and capture all the momentum. Henderson had one last gasp when another 3-pointer from Snowden got the Reddies within 100-92 with three minutes left, but they ran out of gas, as SAU was able to trade baskets the rest of the way and hold on for a high-scoring win.

Henderson's offense was tremendous in defeat. The Reddies shot 56.2% from the floor and 64% in the second half. The Muleriders had a huge advantage at the free throw line, where they finished 29-for-38, compared to HSU, who was just 10-for-13. 

The Reddies return to action on Saturday, Dec. 11, when they host Arkansas Tech at 1 p.m. in the Duke Wells Center.