MAGNOLIA, Ark – For the first time in their NCAA era, the Southern Arkansas Muleriders start their season 6-0 after a hard-fought victory over in-state foe Henderson State inside the chaotic W.T. Watson Center Thursday night. This ballgame showed the true toughness of Adam Collins' new group following the non-conference opposition. SAU also recorded their first conference opening victory since the 2016-17 campaign when the Muleriders defeated East Central 54-48 in Magnolia.
 
This matchup did not disappoint in terms of pure chaos. The two longtime rivals battled out in another edition of this Natural State series. Southern Arkansas earned their 21^st win over the Reddies in the NCAA era. While the point totals for SAU are not what the 'Riders have been accustomed to this season, the defense balled out and stuck through to the very end. The top turnover forcing team in the land showed out once more as they recorded 28 forced turnovers and 16 steals as a team. SAU cashed in 22 points off of those 28 turnovers which accounted for 36% of the Muleriders points on the night. Southern Arkansas only knocked down 21 of their 66 total shots and struggled at the stripe early. The early free throw struggles gave the Reddies the advantage in the first half as they went into the locker room with a 30-25 lead over SAU.
 
In the third period, Southern Arkansas seemed to have found their groove as they outscored Henderson State for the second period of the game 16-12, but still found themselves down to HSU 41-42 at the end of the third.
 
In cold weather, you tend to want to heat up, and junior transfer Zykeria Anderson understood the assignment as she knocked down Southern Arkansas' second and third made free throws of the ballgame with just under 3:30 to go. From then on, the Muleriders made their next nine of ten shots from the line to improve the final score to a 61-57 triumph over the Reddies.
 
TOP PERFORMERS
The Muleriders lead scorer on the night was senior Addy Tremie as she accounted for 15 points thanks to six field goals in which two came from beyond the three-point line. Tremie was third in rebounds with four, and was behind Sihirah Reese (6), Diamond Morris (5), and Jessica Clemons (5). Reese came up with two prime blocks to keep the 'Riders hopes alive in the tightly-knit matchup. Clemons, Chambers, and Chloe Wilbanks all tied for three steals apiece to contribute to Southern Arkansas' 142 total steals on the season.
 
UP NEXT
SAU now plans to keep the momentum gained in the early conference play as they look to take on the reigning runner-ups in the 2022-23 Great American Conference tournament, the Harding Bisons, on Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. in Searcy, Arkansas at the Rhodes-Reaves Field House.