FORT SMITH, Ark. – The Reddies opened the GAC Championships against the No. 5 seed Southeastern Oklahoma State, and led for most of the game, but couldn't hold off the Savage Storm, falling 78-72.
Henderson State's (17-10, 13-10) offense was led by All-GAC first team honoree
Natalie Cardenas, who scored 22 points on 9-17 shooting. All-GAC honorable mention
Brynlee Huggins added 18, while
Jayla Lewis provided 11. The Reddies were led by All-GAC honorable mention
Grayson Fairless in rebounds tonight, recording seven, while
Sam Basson and
Riley Samples each had five. Huggins and Lewis each recorded three assists. Defensively, Huggins and Samples each had a block, while Cardenas and
Macy Willis each had a steal.
Game Recap
Basson opened the game for the Reddies, sinking a three in the first 30 seconds to give Henderson State the lead. This momentum fueled the Reddie's offense, as they took a quick 8-2 lead within the first three minutes of the game, before a flurry of scoring by the Savage Storm tied it 8-8 with 5:25 left in the quarter. Both teams continued to exchange points, before a three by Samples put the Reddies in the lead 16-13 going into the final minute. Southeastern was able to tie it 16-16 going into the second quarter.
In the second quarter, the Savage Storm came back to capture the lead in the first two minutes and increased that lead to 28-19 going into the final six minutes of the half. The Reddies continued to fight, as Cardenas made two threes as part of a 12-2 effort, outscoring Southeastern to retake the lead 31-30 with 53 seconds left. While the Savage Storm recaptured the lead, Samples sunk a three as time expired to give the Reddies the lead 34-33 heading into halftime.
Henderson State kept pushing coming out of halftime, as they outscored Southeastern 9-5 in the first two minutes to hold a 43-38 lead. The Savage Storm kept pushing, trying to regain the lead, but key points by the Reddies held Southeastern away going into the final two minutes of the quarter up 54-50. In those two minutes, the Savage Storm defense held Henderson State scoreless and took the lead 56-54 going into the final quarter.
Henderson State played catch up in the first four minutes, until Lewis sunk a three to tie it 62-62 with 6:26 left in the game. This back and forth continued, as the Savage Storm would retake the lead, and Henderson would tie it, until Lewis made two straight baskets to give Henderson State the lead 68-66 going into the final four minutes. The Reddies would hold off any pushes by Southeastern until the final minute, where Southeastern retook the lead, and held it, preventing Henderson State from scoring in the final minute to win the game 78-72.
Women's Basketball will finish the season 17-10 on the season and 13-0 in GAC play.
