Lady Reddies Rally, Hold Off Lady Lions

Courtesy UAFS Athletics Department

UAFS enjoyed a solid first-half performance against the Henderson State Lady Reddies on Wednesday afternoon at the Duke Wells Center in Arkadelphia, Ark.

Unfortunately, the Lady Lions couldn’t build off that momentum.

Henderson State held UAFS to a season-low 17 points in the final 20 minutes to overcome a 7-point halftime deficit and beat the Lady Lions 51-49 in the intrastate rivalry game.

The Lady Reddies (8-2) avenged their season-opening 79-71 loss to the Lady Lions (3-9) on Nov. 10 at the Stubblefield Center and posted their eighth win in their past nine games. Henderson State was coming off an overtime win against Heartland Conference newcomer and provisional NCAA Division II member McMurry University on Monday.

UAFS trailed only once in the first half and led 32-25 at halftime – its biggest lead of the first 20 minutes – after dominating the paint (18 points) and rebounds (10 second-chance points) and shooting 43 percent from the field (12 for 28).

Henderson State rallied in the second half behind its defense. The Lady Reddies held the Lady Lions to just 20-percent shooting from the field (6 for 30) and only 13-percent shooting from 3-point range (2 for 16).

The Lady Reddies held the Lady Lions to just 2 points – both free throws – in the first 13:35 of the second half and used an 11-2 run to take only their second lead (36-34) on a layup by junior guard Krystal Beachum.

UAFS tied the game (36-36) on a layup by junior post Angi Ramey, but Henderson State countered with an 11-0 run over the next 2:37 to build what turned into an insurmountable lead. Senior forward Katie BenAmor converted a traditional 3-point play with 4 minutes left to halt the Lady Reddies’ run.

The Lady Lions chipped away at the Lady Reddies’ lead, and BenAmor drained a 3-pointer with 3 seconds left to give the Lady Lions a chance only behind by 2 points (51-49). Sophomore guard Lyne’Jerika Stegall fouled senior guard Jill Temples to stop the clock with 1 second left. Temples’ free-throw miss was rebounded by BenAmor, who had no time for a shot attempt.

BenAmor had 16 points to lead UAFS, which shot 31 percent from the field (18 for 58) for the game. Ramey posted her fourth double-double of the season with 10 points and 11 rebounds. UAFS and Henderson State each had 43 rebounds apiece.

Beachum had 16 points to lead Henderson State, which shot 31 percent from the field (18 for 49) for the game. Senior forward Destiny Smith had a double-double with 11 points and 15 rebounds.

UAFS will return to action at 2 p.m. on Saturday when they play Heartland Conference newcomer and provisional NCAA Division II member Oklahoma Christian University at the Payne Athletic Center in Oklahoma City.