SHAWNEE, Okla. – Henderson State's late rally falls short in the Noble Complex as Oklahoma Baptist defeats the Reddies 61-54.  
 
Gracie Raby led the way for HSU with 14 points, eight rebounds and three assists, while Sonni Martin recorded 13 points and two assists. As a team, Henderson shot 32.3 percent from the field but struggled from deep, shooting 3-19 from beyond the arc.
 
Henderson State (6-5, 3-2) will stay in the Sooner State and travel a short distance up the road to take on Southern Nazarene Saturday, Jan. 7 at 1:00 p.m.
 
Oklahoma Baptist took an early advantage to start the game with an 8-7 lead at the first media timeout. Following the timeout, points were hard to come by as both sides struggled to find the basket. HSU evened the game at nine all off a Martin jumper, but OKBU scored four straight to end the frame. Henderson trailed 13-9 after the first ten minutes.  
 
The Bison picked up where they left off in the first period, scoring nine consecutive points to expand their lead to 20-9. The Reddies found some rhythm late in the period as the team closed the gap to 29-20 to end the first half.
 
Raby led the team at the half with seven points, six rebounds and three steals. The team shot 24.2 percent from the floor and 4-8 from the foul line but could not connect from deep, going 0-12 from beyond the arc.
 
Henderson trailed 31-23 after the first media timeout of the second half. Raby was sent to the foul line and converted both attempts to bring the Reddies within five, trailing 31-26. A Martin triple and a jumper from Raby quickly erased Oklahoma Baptist's advantage as HSU outscored OKBU 13-2 to tie the game 33-33. The Bison responded with a 6-0 run, leading 41-38 at the end of the period.
 
Martin tied the game early in the final period, connecting on a three-pointer :17 seconds into the fourth frame. The two sides traded baskets for the next two minutes and a layup by OKBU re-established its lead, 49-43. Oklahoma Baptist remained in control till the final buzzer, converting on a pair of trips to the foul line, defeating HSU 61-54.