[February 8, 2007]

ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Southern Arkansas University shot lights out, when they could hold on to the ball, to down 25th-ranked Henderson State University, 79-68, on Thursday at the Duke Wells Center. It was the first season-sweep for the Lady Muleriders (10-10, 7-2 GSC) against the Lady Reddies (15-6, 3-6) in six years, dating back to the 2000-01 season.

SAU overcame a season-high 26 turnovers by connecting on 51.2 percent (22-43) from the field, their second-best shooting percentage of the year. Conversely, HSU was credited with only eight miscues, but finished just 33.3 percent (23-69) from the floor. Southern Arkansas was even better from beyond the arc, canning nine of 17 (52.9 percent), with freshman guard Goldie White knocking down five of seven.

White and senior center Kim Davis have become a formidable inside-out duo for the Lady Muleriders, as Henderson State found out first hand. White poured in a game-high 24 points and added eight rebounds, and Davis notched her eighth straight double-double, scoring 19 and grabbing 15 boards. It was Davis’ 11th double in her 12 games played on the season and the 39th of her career.

Holding a narrow 29-26 advantage at halftime, SAU allowed the Lady Reddies to sneak past for a 32-31 and then a 34-33 lead at 16:59. Southern Arkansas exploded from that point on, using a 10-0 run on a Davis lay-up, two White treys, and a couple free throws from Brooke Grigsby for a 43-34 margin at 14:19. Davis bombed one from downtown at 12:13 which ignited a 12-4 spree, and the Lady Muleriders found themselves up, 61-42, with 7:34 remaining. HSU kept chipping away, pulling to within six, 69-63, at 1:29, but had to start sending SAU to the free throw line. Southern Arkansas didn’t falter there, canning 10 of 11 down the stretch, with White and Grigsby accounting for all 10.

The Lady Muleriders jumped out to a 12-4 lead in the first frame, but Henderson State responded with a 20-4 run that gave them an eight-point advantage, 24-16, with 7:18 showing. SAU kept clawing and Cassandra Henry’s tip-in with 19 ticks left set the score at the break.

The Lady Reddies poor shooting was wide-spread, connecting on just four of 18 three-pointers (22.2), and hurting themselves from the charity stripe, getting only 18 of 29 (62.1), while Southern Arkansas converted on 26 of 31 freebies (83.9), 20 of 23 in the second half.

Other than White’s treys, she was one of three on two’s and got seven of eight at the line for her scoring. Davis hit seven of nine shots, including her only three attempt, and was four of six at the free throw line. Grigsby dumped in 13 points, including six of six foul shots, and served up six assists. All three were big in the second stanza, with White scoring 17, Davis 14, and Grigsby 11. Stefanie White hit six of seven freebies and finished with nine points, and pulled down six rebounds, dished out five assists, and had one steal.

Sierra Dawson led four HSU players in double-figures with 15 points, Katie Mattingly had 13, and Lauren Hill and Shondra Bush chipped in 11 each. Jeanna White grabbed nine boards, and Bush had four steals.

The Lady Muleriders held a 43-34 rebound advantage, while Henderson State managed to get 28 points off the 26 SAU turnovers.

Southern Arkansas, off to its best start ever in the Gulf South Conference, maintained a tie for second in the West Division with Arkansas Tech (7-2) as the Golden Suns defeated Christian Brothers 72-52 Thursday. Both are one game back of Delta State (8-1). That will soon change, as Tech comes to Magnolia Saturday for a showdown, and the Lady Statesmen visit next Thursday. The Lady Muleriders and ATU tip off at 5:30 p.m. Saturday in a game that is being broadcast nationally via broadband by CSTV. The game can be seen live at www.ncaasports.com/DII.

#SAU#