ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – The Reddies conclude their 2025-26 regular season with a home match up against #14 ranked Harding. It was Senior Day for Henderson State, and seniors Brynlee Huggins, Grayson Fairless and student coach Cole Cocroft were all honored after the thrilling win 77-75.

Henderson State's (17-9, 13-9) offense was led by Riley Samples, who tied her career high from Thursday with 21 points, including 5-6 from three. Jayla Lewis and Natalie Cardenas scored 18 and 16 points respectively, while senior Brynlee Huggins added 13. Senior Grayson Fairless led the Reddies with eight rebounds, while Cardenas added seven, and three other Reddies each had three. Cardenas and Huggins were distributing the ball well, providing seven and four assists respectively. Defensively, Fairless recorded two blocks and two steals, while Huggins added two steals as well.

Game Recap
The Reddie's went shot for shot with Harding in the first four minutes of the first quarter, with the Reddies only trailing 8-6 before a three by Harding extended the lead. Henderson refused to quit however and a three by Huggins narrowed Harding's lead to 15-11 with 3:48 left, and another three by Lewis put the Reddies within two points, going into the final two minutes. Harding scored five and going into the second quarter down 22-17.

In the second quarter, the Bisons kept putting up points, holding a 12-point lead in the first two minutes of the quarter. Henderson refused to quit, with Cardenas sinking a three to narrow the Harding lead to six points, and with five minutes left in the half, trailed 32-26. Harding extended their lead through the next four minutes to 40-26, and in the last seconds before half, Samples scored a three to go into halftime with the score at 40-29.

Henderson came out of the half hot, scoring 11 unanswered points to narrow Harding's lead to just two points. The Reddies eventually took the lead 47-46 with 4:09 left in the quarter. Harding surged back with a seven-point run to end the third quarter, leading 59-51.

The Reddies continued to fight, scoring three straight three-pointers to open the fourth quarter to keep pace with the Bisons. Henderson State outscored Harding 15-9 in the first six minutes of the final quarter to trail 68-66. The Reddie defense continued to hold strong, as Harding scored only five more points until the final minute, holding only a one-point lead 73-72. In that final minute, Henderson started to surge, scoring five key points, while holding Harding to only two more to clinch the upset win, 77-75.

Up Next –
Women's Basketball enters March competing in the GAC Championships in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Be sure to check hsusports.com for more information regarding seeding and game times.