MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Mulerider Women's Hoops is back in action for one final outing before the Christmas break as Southern Arkansas is set for its final venture to Clark County this season to take on the defending Great American Conference Tournament champions, the Henderson State Reddies. The two groups have split their series over the past three seasons, each claiming victory over the other at home for all three campaigns (SAU vs HSU | Magnolia: 3-0 | Arkadelphia: 0-3).  
 
Last season, the Muleriders had begun GAC play against the Reddies in Magnolia after starting the 2023-24 year 5-0. SAU would advance their record to 6-0 after defeating HSU 61-55 in a defensive battle. Following that contest, Southern Arkansas dropped its next four matchups while Henderson State improved each week, with losses only to teams ranked nationally or those that received national recognition. When the Reddies met the Muleriders for the second time last season, Henderson State handled the Blue and Gold with a final score of 60-81.
 
The two groups are set to begin another season series with the Muleriders looking to break the pattern on the road as SAU enters Arkadelphia on Thursday 7-3 and 2-2 in the GAC after defeating Ouachita Baptist on the road and Arkansas Tech at home. If anything, Southern Arkansas' contest with ATU seems to be proof of patterns being disrupted as the Muleriders' triumph against the Golden Suns was the first for the unit since the 2019-2020 season and the first since the 2014-2015 campaign that SAU defeated them at home.
 
Both the Muleriders and the Reddies have had similar beginnings to the 2024-25 GAC schedule after both teams fell twice while in Oklahoma in a similar fashion. The following week, Henderson State went to Russellville where they defeated Tech much like Southern Arkansas (83-70). The only difference between the programs' week two of conference play was the loss the Reddies received at home against preseason favorite Harding in a tightly-contested overtime battle (88-94).
 
In that contest with the Bisons, sophomore guard Natalie Cardenas led the game in scoring with 32 points after she made 9-20 from the field, 4-8 from three-point range, and a very impressive 10-12 at the free throw line. Cardenas also acquired six rebounds and tied for the second-most on the team that game. Three other Reddies also had an impressive game, which were Brynlee Huggins, Sam Basson, and Marlee Raby. Basson and Raby both accounted for 17 points while Huggins was second in scoring for the Reddies with 18 points.
 
Last week for the Muleriders, the Matthews Era truly began to set in as the first-year head coach for Southern Arkansas claims a second defensive player of the week honor with Elena Lijo-Rodriguez winning the honor for the first time in her career, which marks the first time SAU Women's Hoops have been rewarded multiple GAC POTW honors for two or more players in the same season.
 
The Muleriders have been dominating teams on defense with the most points surrendered all season being 70 points against the Golden Suns on Saturday. Nationally, the Southern Arkansas defense ranks 13^th, allowing just 52.0 points per game. The group is leading the Great American Conference defensively in scoring, defensive field goal percentage (35.0% | 32^nd nationally), and steals per game (11.9 | 33^rd nationally). Because of SAU's defense, the team also leads the league for their scoring margin of 18.4, which is 18^th nationally.
 
Three different Muleriders have accounted for 100+ points on the season. Leading the team in scoring is Addy Tremie with 126 so far (12.6 ppg). The Sulphur, Louisiana native has made 48-117 (41.0%) and is also leading the team in three-point shots made with 25, and is second in the conference for her three-point attempts (67), percentage (37.3%), makes, and made per game (2.5).
 
Leading the team, the conference, and the Central Region in steals is Marlee Bright as the junior averages 4.00 steals per game and has accounted for 40 on the season. Those numbers rank her average fourth in Division II and her total fifth in Division II. Finally, the native of Amity, Arkansas is also the team's, the conference's, and the Central Region's leader for total assists with 64 assists this season, which ranks third in Division II.
 
Southern Arkansas will face Henderson State inside the Duke Wells Center on Thursday at 5:30 PM with live links to streaming and live stats available at www.MuleriderAthletics.com/coverage.