GAME NOTES (PDF)

MAGNOLIA – The SAU Women's Basketball team, coming off a huge win this past Saturday, look to continue building on their winning ways as they face Arkansas-Monticello on Thursday before hosting Ouachita Baptist on Saturday.

Last week, the Muleriders slow third quarter was too much to overcome against Henderson State, losing 79-72; on Saturday, they overcame a 17-point, fourth quarter deficit to win in Russellville over Arkansas Tech for the first time since 2005.

Kisi Young made the game-tying layup to complete the comeback and send it to overtime; Lena Maledon hit a three off the left win with 31 seconds left in overtime to give the Muleriders the lead; and Ariana Guinn hit the game-winning, turnaround jumper that bounced off back rim and the backboard before falling with 2.1 seconds left.

On Thursday, the Muleriders travel to Monticello to take on the Cotton Blossoms in a Battle of the Timberlands matchup. In their last meeting on January 16^th, the Muleriders claimed victory inside the W. T. Watson Center 79-74; the Muleriders forced 29 turnovers and four Muleriders scored in double figures.

Diamond Morris and Young both scored 13 points, while Alyssa Crase and Doriana Brown scored ten points each.

Berniezha Tidwell led the Blossoms with 21 points on 8-22 shooting.

The Blossoms are 14-8 on the season and 9-7 in conference play. Tied with the Muleriders for the seventh seed in the conference, they sit two games ahead of Northwestern Oklahoma with six left to play.

The Blossoms are 10-1 on their home court this season, their lone loss coming to Southwestern Oklahoma on January 2^nd. The Muleriders beat the Blossoms last season in Monticello 62-56 for their lone road win of the season.

Monticello snapped a three-game losing streak with a 64-62 win last Saturday against Henderson State in Arkadelphia. The Muleriders are 6-4 on the road this season with conference wins at Ouachita, East Central, Northwestern Oklahoma and Arkansas Tech.

On Saturday, the Muleriders will host the Tigers from Ouachita Baptist. The Tigers are 4-18 on the season and 1-15 in the GAC, currently propping up the rest of the conference standings. The Tigers are in the midst of a ten-game losing streak, last claiming victory on January 4^th against Oklahoma Baptist. When these two teams last met on December 7^th, the Muleriders crusied to a 78-58 victory over the Tigers.

In a complete contrast for the two teams, the Muleriders played sixteen players last time versus the Tigers while the Tigers only have eight players listed on their roster.

Kisi Young and Fatarah Kinnard were both in double figures for the Muleriders with 16 and 10 points, respectively as 14 Muleriders got their name on the scoresheet.

All four of the Tigers' wins have come on their home court, going 0-10 on the road. The Muleriders are 7-3 on their home court, with those losses coming to Arkansas Tech, Northwestern Oklahoma and Henderson State.

Following this weekend, the Muleriders will host Southeastern Oklahoma and East Central next week to close out their home schedule.