Magnolia, Ark. - For the first time since March 11^th, a Mulerider team will be in action. The SAU Women's Basketball team, off a GAC Tournament appearance last season, tips off their season tomorrow in Arkadelphia against Henderson State. The Muleriders will play a 19-game schedule against the other five teams in the Eastern Division.

THE MULERIDERS ENTERING THIS SEASON

*The Muleriders, under third-year head coach Adam Collins, were picked tied for third in the Eastern Division for this season in the preseason coaches' poll

*The Muleriders return the top four scorers from last season's team, which was responsible for the biggest turnaround in Division II a season ago, and made the GAC Conference Tournament for the first time since 2016

*In all, 11 players return from last year's team, with the addition of three transfers and a true freshman

*Notable returners include All-GAC selection Kisi Young, as well as leading scorers Diamond Morris, Kylie Warren and Ariana Guinn

*On Thursday, Southern Arkansas will tip off the season against Henderson State, the other team to be picked tied for third in the preseason coaches' poll

*The Muleriders open their home slate on Monday against Arkansas-Monticello in the first of four rivalry Mondays

*The Muleriders will then go on the road for a pair of games, facing Arkansas Tech on Thursday and Harding on Saturday

*The Muleriders' game against the Tigers, originally scheduled for January 9th, has been cancelled due to a COVID-19 outbreak among the Tigers' team.

*The Muleriders recorded 442 steals last season, most in the conferece and second-most for a team in a single-season all-time in the GAC era

*The Muleriders also led the league in turnovers forced and offensive rebounds, and Kisi Young led the conference in field goal percentage

*Last season's 17 wins was the most since the Muleriders won 19 games in 2015-16 and is the third-most wins in the Division II era

SCOUTING THE REDDIES

*A season ago, the Reddies defeated the Muleriders in both of their matchups
 
* Henderson State comes off a 20-win campaign a season ago and return a pair of starters from last year's team
 
*Returning is Karrington Whaley, who led the GAC in offensive rebounding, and Lani Snowden, who averaged 10.2 points per game last season
 
*As a team, the Reddies led the conference in rebounding, field goals made and scoring average
 
*The Reddies lost Hailey Estes, who played 36.4 minutes per game and recorded 14 double-doubles, and Pink Jones, who led the league in assists last season
 
*Jill Thomas is fifth in the GAC all-time in wins with 104

SCOUTING THE TIGERS
*The Muleriders and the Tigers game scheduled on January 9th at the W. T. Watson Center has been cancelled due to COVID-19 issues within the Tigers team. Both men's teams will still play at 4 p.m.

SCOUTNG THE BLOSSOMS

* The Muleriders open at home against the Blossoms on January 11th

* The conference tournament runner-ups a season ago, the Blossoms were picked tied for fifth in the Eastern Division in the preseason coaches' poll

* They split both of their contests last season, with the home team winning each contest

*The Blossoms return three starters and six players, but lose All-GAC First Team selection Berniezha Tidwell

*This is the first season at UAM for head coach Markell Cox

*The Blossoms possessed the best scoring defense in the league last season, only allowing 59.2 points per game

SCOUTING THE GOLDEN SUNS

* The Suns were picked second in the preseason coaches' poll

* The Suns return all five of their starters from last season, when they won 17 games

* The Muleriders and the Suns split their games last season, with both teams winning on the road

* The Muleriders' win in overtime in Russellville last season featured a 17-point fourth quarter comeback

*Most notable returner is Jayana Sanders, an All-GAC second team selection last season, in addition to honorable mentions Kaley Shipman and Ke'Vonshaye Stackhouse

*The Suns led the league in rebounding last season, averaging 44.0 rebounds per contest

*Dave Wilbers has the highest winning percentage in the GAC with a .727,  and is tied for most GAC wins with 137

SCOUTING THE BISONS

* The Bisons and the Muleriders split each of their games last season, with the home team winning each time

* Harding are picked to win the Eastern Division in the preseason coaches' poll, having won the regular season championship (tied with Southwestern Oklahoma and Southeastern Oklahoma) a year ago

*The Bisons return three starters from last season's team, and seven players in total

*Notable among the returners is 2019-20 All-GAC First Team selection Carissa Caples and 2018-19 All-GAC First Team Kellie Lampo

* Lampo holds the GAC record for most free throws attempted in a single season - 236 in 18-19

*Tim Kirby has the second-most wins in the GAC era with 195, and is tied for most GAC wins with 137