MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Complete disorder and confusion. That's the definition of chaos and if you ask fourth-year head coach Adam Collins or any of the head coaches that will face the Southern Arkansas Women's Basketball program this season they'll tell you it is inevitable: chaos is on its way. The Central Region Challenge, the site of the Mulerider Women's first two contests of the '21-22 season, will see its fair share of the descriptor that has come to define Collins and Co.'s style of play. The Muleriders open the season on Friday night in primetime against tournament-host Lincoln at 7:30 p.m., before matching up against Upper Iowa on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
 
Southern Arkansas returns all 14 players that played at least one game last spring. The Muleriders will again benefit from the services of their leading scorer from a season ago as Diamond Morris returns. Morris was one of four Muleriders, all of which return, to average double figures in scoring as her team-leading 13.6 ppg came in a team-high average of 24.1 minutes on the floor. She paced the squad in both assists (30) and steals (29).
 
A pair of all-league performers return in second-team selection Kisi Young and honorable mention performer Ariana Guinn. Young returns after scoring at a clip of 13.1 ppg last spring on a team-high 52.2% from the floor. She led the team in rebounding with 75 and was one of six players with at least six blocks last season. Guinn averaged 11.3 ppg on 41.7% shooting and a team-high 45.8% from three-point range. Jessica Jones rounds out returners that average 10+ ppg last season as she delivered 11.1 on a nightly basis behind the team's second-best field goal percentage (45.5%) and three-point percentage (42.0%), while grabbing the third-most rebounds on the team with 57.
 
Kenzie Ezekiel (36.4 FG%), Kylie Warren (90% FT), Lillie Moore (68 REB.), Jerica Bell (37.5 FG%), Braydyn Hill (26 AST., 41.7 FG%), Tearra Cook (58.3 FG%), Camryn Fennell (19 AST., 11 STL), Maggie Evans (9 AST., 10 STL), and Jenae Jennings (11 REB., 5 STL) are all back after seeing action in at least 12 of the team's 14 games. Jada Gasaway played in seven contests last spring and returns to provide needed depth.
 
The Muleriders also added the services of Antonia Kovacevic (Oklahoma Christian), Mychala Linzy (McNeese State) and Lydia Hollaway (Joe T. Robinson). Also back in 2021-22 is junior Doriana Brown who did not play in 2020-21, but saw action in 27 games in 2019-20 making ten starts and averaging 12.1 minutes on the floor.
 
SAU ranked fifth nationally in scoring offense last season at 83.0 ppg. The Muleriders also ranked seventh in Division II in offensive rebounds per game 17.3. Defensively, the chaotic approach continued to pay dividends as the unit ranked ninth in the county in steals per game at 12.3, while owning the 13^th-best turnovers forced rate at 22.0.
 
First up for the Muleriders are the Blue Tigers of Lincoln. LU leads the series 2-1, but the Muleriders claimed a 13-point win in the most recent meeting between the two programs in December of 2019. Last year, Lincoln posted a 2-20 record and enter the weekend following a 100-44 exhibition loss to Missouri State. All-MIAA Honorable Mention performer Niyah Jackson averaged 14.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.2 assists last season headlines the six returners for the Blue Tigers.
 
Saturday's contest sees the Muleriders match up with Upper Iowa. In the only previous meeting, Southern Arkansas defeated the Peacocks 73-47 in 2019 behind a 28-point fourth quarter. Last season, UPU finished 1-15 in the NSIC. The Peacocks return an NSIC All-Freshman selection in Lydia Haack, who averaged 14.5 ppg and 3.3 apg, and the 2019-20 NSIC Freshman of the Year in Jessica Musgrave. Six other players return from last season's campaign.
 
Live stat and live video (PPV) for both contests can be accessed here: https://muleriderathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/schedule.