ARKADELPHIA, Ark.  —  Henderson State dropped the first game of a four-game homestead to Arkansas-Monticello at the Duke Wells Center on Saturday. Thanks to a 51 percent performance from the field, the Blossoms bested the Reddies by a score of 70-53.

The Reddies shot 47 percent from the floor in the first quarter, leading to a nine-point HSU advantage at the end of the period. The following quarter, UAM closed out the half with a 14-0 scoring run to take a two-point lead into the locker room. Henderson would tie the game and even reclaim the lead with less than four minutes to go in the third, but seven unanswered points from the Blossoms gave the visitors a one-possession advantage heading into the fourth. Arkansas-Monticello outscored HSU 24-9 over the final 10 minutes of play to provide the final result.

Makenna Winans had 16 total rebounds and nine offensive boards in the loss: both personal bests in her career with the Reddies. Both totals also serve as individual season highs for the Reddies in 2024-25.

Natalie Cardenas reached double figures for a seventh consecutive game by posting a team-leading 13 points. Both she and Riley Samples collected two steals apiece.

Brynlee Huggins, Tristin Keller, and Winans recorded one block each.

Henderson will continue its current home stretch when Oklahoma Baptist comes to town on Thursday, February 20. Tip-off at the Duke Wells Center is set for 5:30 p.m.