ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Ashley Farrar's career-high 44 points and 15 rebounds help Henderson State to a 98-90 victory over Southern Arkansas in an overtime thriller.
 
Farrar is the first player to score 35 points and have 15 rebounds in a single game since Reddie legend Aungelique Sledge did against Southwestern Oklahoma State in 2015. The senior also recorded her first double-double of the season.
 
As a team, Henderson shot 50.7% from the field and 20% from the three-point line while going 23-31 from the charity line. HSU did most of its damage on offense up by the rim, as the team had 62 points in the paint.  Gracie Raby was the team's second-leading scorer with a season-high 16 points, while Sonni Martin had a team-high four assists.
 
Henderson had to deal with relentless pressure early on from Southern Arkansas as the Muleriders pressed high up the court, forcing some early mistakes from the Reddies. With good passing, HSU was able to beat the press and drive to the basket. After a back-and-forth first ten minutes, the high-scoring period ends with the two sides tied at 27-27. Farrar tied the game with a layup with three seconds left on the clock.  
 
The second period was not as faced paced and chaotic as the first, but the two sides continued to exchange points. After scoring six points in the opening 40 seconds, the teams could not find the basket for the next two minutes. SAU broke the scoring drought with a pair of free throws, followed by a layup from Farrar. The half's final minutes closed out with a layup from Brynlee Huggins and a free throw from Tamia Templeton. Henderson led 44-40 after the first 20 minutes. 
 
The game picked up again at the start of the second, with each team scoring six points in the opening minute of the second half. Similar to the second period, there would be another few minutes of back-and-forth action with no points scored. The two sides traded a pair of free throws to break the scoring drought. Henderson carried a 59-54 lead into the game's final period.
 
HSU scored the frame's first six points and expanded its lead to 64-54. The fourth period would be another high-scoring affair as SAU scored 27 points while HSU had 22. Southern Arkansas began to chip away at Henderson's lead with 3:00 left in the period. The Muleriders outscored the Reddies 10-4 to bring the game within one point. SAU tied the game at 81-81with just four seconds left on the clock, sending the game into overtime.
 
HSU began the overtime period by connecting on two free throws from the charity line. In a little over a minute, Henderson outscored Southern Arkansas 10-6 to lead 94-88, heading into the final two minutes. A layup by Martin with 40 seconds remaining sealed a Reddies victory, ending the Mulerider's comeback.
 
Henderson St. (4-3, 1-0) travels to Monticello, Ark. for its next game to face UAM this Saturday at 1 p.m.