MAGNOLIA, Ark – Southern Arkansas gears up for an in-state throwdown in Monticello and Arkadelphia following the first half of conference bouts being finalized. The Muleriders come off an 0-2 weekend after falling to #5/2 Southern Nazarene and Oklahoma Baptist in Magnolia, and now prepare for the two-week journey across the Natural and Sooner State to end January and begin February.
 
ARKANSAS-MONTICELLO (5-11 | 1-9 GAC)
>>> Entering into the first Battle of the Timberlands of the 2023-24 season, the Arkansas-Monticello Cotton Blossoms arrive at 5-11 with just one victory in the Great American Conference against Southeastern Oklahoma state in Durant, Oklahoma (59-56, 1/13/24).
>>> UAM has proven many times this season to be a difficult opponent when playing inside Steelman Fieldhouse this season by not giving league opposition any easy victories. Even though the Cotton Blossoms have yet to win a conference game in their own facility, they have been proving to inch closer and closer to their goal, and what better opportunity than against your largest rival.
>>> Arkansas-Monticello's four other triumphs have come to non-conference foes starting with their first one of the season coming inside the W.T. Watson Center against Newman in the GAC/MIAA Challenge to open the campaign. The Cotton Blossoms slowly separated themselves from the Jets while in Magnolia to overcome the MIAA program by a score of 69-48. UAM's next three wins would come in three of the next four competitions, winning all three at home against Crowley's Ridge College (85-61), Arkansas Baptist College (67-47), and Arkansas-Fort Smith (61-53).
>>> One thing that the Cotton Blossoms are not afraid to do is pull the trigger from three-point range. UAM ranks fifth in the GAC with three-point attempts per game (21.7) and they have been efficient guarding the shot as they rank third in three-point defense (27.5%). Arkansas-Monticello ranks fifth in the GAC in turnover margin (2.25) and forced per game (18.31). Finally the Cotton Blossoms have proven to be somewhat efficient defensively in the paint as well due to averaging three blocks per game (5th GAC). 
 
HENDERSON STATE (10-6 | 6-4 GAC)
>>> Henderson State enters week nine at 10-6 overall with a 6-4 record in the Great American Conference after winning four of their last five contests.
>>> The Reddies had a rough-start to league play as they lost to the Muleriders in the GAC opener, then went on a 2-2 run, which brought their record to 2-3. Henderson State has made a significant turnaround defeating Oklahoma Baptist (74-54), Southwestern Oklahoma State in Weatherford (78-71), Southeastern Oklahoma State (75-69), and East Central (63-48).
>>> HSU's sole flaw in their previous five games came against then #12 Northwestern Oklahoma State in Alva, Oklahoma where the Reddies fell to the Lady Rangers 55-64.
>>> The Reddies have gradually improved over the course of the season as they hold the top-placed spot in free throws made per game at 15.88/game (18th nationally) while their free throw percentage sits at second in the GAC at 76.3% with free attempts at third (20.81). Henderson State ranks at the top in the conference when it comes to three-point percentage (35.5% | 23rd nationally) and three-pointers made per game (8.6 | 12th nationally).
>>> Ashley Farrar leads the Reddies in the majority of the team's statistical categories ranked within the top 250 of the nation. FG attempts (6th GAC | 197), FG percentage (6th GAC | 44.7%), FGs made (6th GAC | 88), FT attempts (1st GAC | 110), FT percentage (8th GAC | 80.9%), FTs made (1st GAC | 89), minutes/GM (2nd GAC | 18.9), 3PT attempts (5th GAC | 87), 3PTs made (2nd GAC | 38), 3PTs/GM (2nd GAC | 2.38). Farrar is second in the GAC in 3PT% at 43.7%, only behind her teammate Tori Gittens who has shot 50% from three (1st GAC | 3rd nationally).
 
BACK TO THE BEGINNING
>>> Since joining the Great American Conference in the 2011-2012 campaign, Southern Arkansas has accounted for a record of 5-7 when competing against the team they opened conference play against for the second occasion that season. Of those twelve games, the Muleriders have faced off with the Henderson State Reddies for the conference wrap around on four occasions, in which SAU is 2-2 against the in-state foe.
>>> Last year's conference rematch between the Muleriders and the Reddies ended with a Southern Arkansas triumph with a score of 62-60. The conference opener in the Fall of 2022 saw the Reddies claim victory against SAU by a score of 98-90 OT. In that go around, Diamond Morris recorded 44 points over the two contests as Ashley Farrar was responsible for 44 against Southern Arkansas the last time they met in Arkadelphia.
>>> This season, Adam Collins' Muleriders shutdown the Reddies by holding the team to 55 points (Tied for 2nd lowest this season | 53 vs SNU, 55 vs NWOSU). Farrar and Olivia Allen were each held to ten points in the game.
 
THE RIGHT CONSISTENCY
>>> Head Coach Adam Collins has been known for his fast-paced play for offense and specifically defense. With the Muleriders on the road for the next fourteen days, Collins' team is going to need that speed they've had in bursts throughout the season to remain consistent.
>>> Southern Arkansas has dropped the last two ballgames against #5/2 Southern Nazarene and Oklahoma Baptist at home due to inconsistent play.
>>> Against the Crimson Storm, the Muleriders played a solid first half, in which they excelled in the second period of play to only be down two heading into the locker rooms. Southern Arkansas came out a bit slower in the third period, but was still very much in the ballgame. The fourth was a complete turnaround from the second quarter as SNU ran away with the victory in the final period.
>>> Southern Arkansas looked for a bounce back win against Oklahoma Baptist, but the Bison did not come into the game soft or slow. OBU delivered one of its best three quarters of ball this season, but slowed up in the fourth, in which the Muleriders looked to take advantage of and nearly did. Unfortunately, Southern Arkansas fell to Oklahoma Baptist 58-63 after being down by as much as 21 points in the third period.
 
'RIDERS AND THE BLOSSOMS
>>> In the NCAA era, these two long going in-state rivals have been near even in wins and losses as Southern Arkansas just edges out the Cotton Blossoms by one game with a 28-27 record since the 1995-96 season.
>>> The Muleriders have won the last six matchups by an average scoring margin of 16.8 with the closest contest coming at the beginning of the win streak in which SAU came out on top 72-66 in January of 2021.
>>> Since becoming affiliated the Great American Conference, Southern Arkansas has held the record to 13-11 due to the recent winning streak over its big rival. Prior to the six-game winning streak, Arkansas-Monticello handled the Muleriders from 2011-12 to 2019-20 with its 11-7 lead against its bitter foes. Since Adam Collins joined the staff at Southern Arkansas University, the Muleriders have only lost to the Boll Weevils twice. Once in Collins' inaugural season, and the last time in February of 2020.
>>> The last six games saw the Muleriders rise as victors by scores of 85-59, 76-63, 87-67, 109-73, 93-51, and 72-66.
 
IT'S BRIGHT UP THERE
>>> While she may not be the tallest, she has shown her effort in above and beyond ways. One way being her innate ability to get up to and get the ball for a rebound. Marlee Bright has 13 rebounds in the last three ballgames (5-2-6) and has shown how far effort can get you. The sophomore from Amity, Arkansas has been a key player for Collins as she plays the point position along with upperclassmen Chloe Wilbanks.
 
NEED 3? CALL RILEY
>>> Riley Stanford has proven herself over the last few games as she has become on of the Muleriders premiere three-point shooters, even while not being a normal starter. Getting back from the winter break, the Benton, Louisiana native has recorded multiple three-pointers in four of the last five games.
 
HOT OFF THE BENCH
>>> The players mentioned, and Tequaza Chambers have been three prime reasons why the Muleriders lead the Great American Conference in bench points averaged per game at 30.6. Chambers has accounted for double-digit ballgames in three of her last four outings.