ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – The Reddies hosted the Crimson Storm from Southern Nazarene tonight, securing the win in overtime 96-85.

Henderson State (10-3, 6-3) were led tonight by Natalie Cardenas, who scored 24 points, shooting 47.4 percent from the field and 87.5 percent from the free-throw line. Two other Reddies scored 20-plus points tonight, Grayson Fairless added 23, while Jayla Lewis scored a career-high 21 points. Fairless led the Reddies with 14 rebounds, securing her seventh double-double this season, while Riley Samples added five. Samples led the Reddies in assists with three. Defensively, Cardenas led the Reddies with three blocks and five steals.

Game Recap
Southern Nazarene opened with the first points of the game, but Cardenas and Fairless scored two each to give the Reddies the lead. A 5-0 run by the Crimson Storm recaptured the lead for SNU and they used the momentum to hold the lead for the rest of the quarter. The Reddies shot 35.7 percent from the field in the first quarter, with Huggins leading Henderson State with five points.

Both teams traded points to open the second quarter, but three straight three-pointers by the Crimson Storm extended their lead. Cardenas didn't flinch, and scored three straights to begin a Reddie surge. SNU didn't give up the lead, however, and led 42-35 going into the half. The Reddies improved to shooting 50 percent from the field, along with 75 percent from three, with Cardenas scoring 11 for the Reddies.

To open the second half, Fairless scored three to move the lead to 45-38. The Crimson Storm kept up their pressure, extending the lead to 53-38, before Cardenas scored a layup to end the run. Five points by Fairless aided a push by the Reddies as they were able to narrow the lead to 65-52 going into the final quarter. The Reddies shot 46.2 percent from the floor, with Fairless leading the Reddies with eight points.

Going into the fourth quarter, Fairless scored three to hold the score at 68-55. SNU was able to set the score to 70-55, before the Reddies pushed. Fairless started off the surge with two, and Lewis scored a three as the Reddies outscored the Crimson Storm 20-5, and forced 10 turnovers, to tie the game 75-75 with ten seconds left in the game. The Reddies held on and forced overtime. The Reddies shot 47.4 percent and held the Crimson Storm to 36.4 percent shooting.

The Reddies dominated overtime, scoring eight straight to take the lead 83-75. Lewis scored eight points, and the defense held SNU to only 10 points total. The Reddies shot 57.1 percent from the floor and 85.7 percent from the free-throw line to end the comeback and win the game 96-85.

Up Next –
Women's Basketball host the Bison of Oklahoma Baptist on January 17th at 1:00 PM in the Duke Wells Center