MONTICELLO, Arkansas – Henderson State (7-6, 7-5) locked up the 2-seed in next week's Great American Conference Tournament after defeating Arkansas-Monticello, 68-51. Coming with the 2-seed is a first-round bye as HSU will host the winner of Southern Nazarene vs. Oklahoma Baptist Wednesday, Mar. 3 at 5:30 p.m.
 
Defense was the big story for the Reddies Saturday afternoon. After the first period, HSU held UAM to less than 16 points in each of the next three quarters. The Blossoms only shot 27.9% from the field (19-68) and 7.1% from beyond-the-arc (2-28).
 
Maci Mains and Ashley Farrar spear-headed the offensive effort as Mains put in a team-high 17 points followed by Farrar with 14 points along with 10 rebounds for a double-double in the triumph. Karrington Whaley gave HSU three blocks to go with her eight points and 13 rebounds.
 
Henderson took a while to get going as it only saw four field goals and eight turnovers in the first quarter. The Reddies did convert 5 points from the free throw line. After the first 10 minutes, Arkansas-Monticello led 19-15.
 
An and-1 from Farrar minutes into the second quarter led to a 7-0 run for HSU to retake the lead. The Reddies kept building its lead until they saw their biggest lead up to that point of the first half at 32-23 with 1:30 remaining in half. The Reddies put up four more points to UAM's three to go into the locker room with the 36-26 advantage.
 
Defense in the second quarter was stout for HSU, holding UAM to only seven points to Henderson's 21. At the halfway mark, Farrar led the way with 10 points with Mains coming through with nine.
 
At the 7:51 mark of the third period, Lani Snowden hit a three to tie Aungelique Sledge for 4th all-time in made 3-pointers. Snowden will have an opportunity to officially move squarely into 4th place in HSU's first conference tournament game on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Henderson began to build its lead in the third, as HSU outscored UAM 17-10 in the third to head into the final period up 53-36.
 
The Reddies left no doubt throughout the fourth as HSU built its largest lead shortly into the final quarter, 57-38. Both squads wound up trading baskets the rest of the way as a 15-15 fourth quarter led to a Henderson victory, 68-51.