MAGNOLIA, Ark – CHAOS returns inside the W.T. Watson Center for one final ride before the holiday break as the 'Riders come off their first defeat this season and look to lift up Mulerider faithful's spirits at home one more time in 2023. Finishing up the first quarter of the regular season, Southern Arkansas' record advances to 6-1 (1-1 GAC) and the 'Riders look to add league win number two to said record with Ouachita Baptist entering Columbia County on Saturday (Dec. 9) at 1:00 p.m.

 
TOP PERFORMERS
Senior Diamond Morris lead the Muleriders in total points with 96 and averaging 13.7 points per game (13^th GAC). The Sheridan native has made 46.8% (6^th GAC) of her shots (36-77) while going 19-24 from the stripe (79.2% | 7^th GAC). Kyleigh Scoggins and Lynn Griffin are each making above 80% of their free throw attempts as Scoggins has made 10 of her 12 (83.3%) and Griffin 14 of 17 (82.4%). Addy Tremie leads the crew in three-point shots made thus far as she has made 14 of her 38 (8^th/9^th GAC) (36.8% | 8^th GAC) attempts beyond the arc. Dishing it out for Southern Arkansas has been Tequaza Chambers with 18 assists in her first campaign as a Mulerider along with Chloe Wilbanks who has recorded 17 assists.
 
Sophomore Sihirah Reese ranks at the top of the team in rebounds with 46 and is the only Mulerider with 20+ offensive and defensive rebounds this season with 24 offensive boards and 22 on the defensive side of the ball. Just two other players have recorded 30+ rebounds this season in Jessica Clemons (33) and Morris (31). Chambers has been leading SAU in steals this season with 18 to her merit while she is not the only one with the Muleriders leading Divisions I and II in steals per game. Zykeria Anderson (17), Reese (16), Marlee Bright (15), Scoggins (14), Clemons (14), and Morris (14). In total, Southern Arkansas has nine players with 10+ steals.
 
OUACHITA BAPTIST (3-3 | 1-1 GAC)
Losses to Pittsburg State (6-1 |1-1 MIAA), University of Texas at Tyler (6-3 | 2-0 LSC), and Harding (6-1 | 2-0 GAC). The Tigers recently ended a three-game losing streak with their first conference win of the year against Arkansas Tech (4-2 | 1-1 GAC) in Russellville
 
Since Southern Arkansas' NCAA era began, the Muleriders record against OUA rests at 21-31 with the last matchup going in Ouachita Baptist's favor 93-65 in Magnolia. SAU last defeated the Tigers on February 24, 2022 when SAU claimed the sweep over the Tigers in the 2021-22 season with an 86-82 victory in Arkadelphia.
 
The Tigers have been effective in stealing the ball and causing turnovers much like the Muleriders as they are ranked second in the conference in turnovers forced per game (23.17), third in turnover margin (7.67), and third in steals per game (11.0). OUA has been strong from the line this campaign as they have made 76.8% of their shots from the stripe.
 
Ouachita Baptist's leading scorer has been Laney Mears with 88 points this season. She has made 31 of her 78 field goal attempts (39.7%). The junior also leads her squad in free throw percentage with at least 10 attempts as she has made 14 of her 16 trips to the line making 87.5% of her free throws. Mears has been averaging 14.7 points per game this season, but also leads the team in steals with 19. Grayson Fairless has been the team's strongest rebounder this campaign with 30 total and 23 defensively.
 
This will be the Muleriders final contest at home before the new year. Southern Arkansas looks to leave 2023 on a good note heading into 2024 as following this game are two road matches against Arkansas Tech on December 17 and UT-Tyler on December 19. For more information on Mulerider Women's Basketball and more athletic events, check out www.MuleriderAthletics.com or look us up @muleridersports on X, Facebook, and Instagram.