ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Henderson State completes the season sweep over Southwestern Oklahoma State with a 62-53 win over the Lady Bulldogs Saturday afternoon at the Duke Wells Center.
 
HSU (14-8, 10-6) dominated the rebound battle 41-28 with the help of a team-high nine boards from Bobbi Bazzle. Jadah Pickens led the scoring with 19 points on 55.5 percent (5-9) shooting and was perfect from the foul line (8-8), while Ashley Farrar recorded 11 points on 4-of-9 shooting. The Reddies converted 45.7 percent of their shots for the game and were an efficient 16-of-18 at the free-throw line.  
 
A slow start to the game for both sides saw the Reddies tied with SWOSU 2-2 through the first three minutes. Turnovers hurt HSU in its next four possessions, as they went scoreless for four minutes and six seconds, which saw the Lady Bulldogs take a 7-2 lead. Farrar broke the drought with a layup followed by a three-pointer to knot the game 7-all. Southwestern knocked down a triple to go back in front, but Gittens replied seconds later with a three-pointer to re-tie the game. The Lady Bulldogs would make a basket as time expired in the quarter to hold a 14-12 lead.
 
The game remained close through the first five baskets in the second period, with the two sides deadlocked at 17-17. The Reddies were the first to find separation on an 8-0 run, featuring back-to-back triples from Brynlee Huggins and Olivia Allen to push HSU ahead 25-19. Southwestern trimmed Henderson's advantage to one on a 5-0 burst, but the Reddies would close the half with three free throws to lead 28-24 at the break.
 
Points were hard to come by through the first six minutes of the third quarter, as HSU led 32-26 at the first media timeout. The Reddies' first four points came from back-to-back layups by Pickens and Farrar off second-chance opportunities. After the media break, points began to fall, starting with a 4-0 run by SWOSU and later another four consecutive points to tie the game 34-34. The Reddies replied with a 6-1 run in the final minute and twenty-one seconds to carry a 40-35 advantage going into the fourth period.
 
Unlike the third period, the fourth quarter had a fast-paced start to it, with the two sides trading baskets in the first minute and a half with the score tied 44-all. HSU broke the deadlock with a 10-0 run across three minutes and thirty-five seconds to go back in front 54-44. Four straight points by Allen followed and would give the red-and-grey a 12-point lead and its largest edge of the game, 58-46. Pickens would provide the final four scores for Henderson to hold onto the win.
 
Henderson State (14-8, 10-6) will remain at home for a clash with rivals Ouachita Baptist on Thursday, Feb. 15 at 5:30 p.m. for the second installment of the Battle of the Ravine.