MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Southern Arkansas takes its farthest trip in Great American Conference play as the Mulerider Women travel to west Oklahoma for their battles with the Southwestern Oklahoma State Bulldogs (7-7 | 3-5) on Thursday at 5:30 PM and the Northwestern Oklahoma State Rangers (6-8 | 3-5) on Saturday at 1:00 PM.
 
Series History vs. Southwestern Oklahoma State
The Bulldogs have dominated the series between the two programs with a 4-21 record against the Muleriders. Southern Arkansas' four victories against SWOSU have all come inside the W.T. Watson Center (4-9). While being road warriors against the Bulldogs, the Muleriders have not been able to win a contest inside the Pioneer Event Center (0-12). The last time the Muleriders beat the Bulldogs was last season in Magnolia by a whopping 33 points (88-55). In their last meeting, SWOSU claimed victory while at home (58-66).
 
Series History vs. Northwestern Oklahoma State
Southern Arkansas holds a 12-11 record against the Rangers as they lead against NWOSU on the road with a 7-4 record. Northwestern Oklahoma State has been victors of the last two meetings by a 20-point margin as the group escaped the W.T. Watson Center with a 53-57 triumph and handled their business against SAU while at home with a 49-65 win. Southern Arkansas' last win against the Rangers came in the 22-23 campaign as the Muleriders swept the unit both at home (68-56) and on the road (68-62).
 
SAU at a Glance
The Muleriders are looking to bring home a pair of much-needed victories as all three groups will be trying to break the five-team 3-5 tie in the bottom half of the conference standings.
 
The Blue and Gold continue to boast the league's top defense as they have been surrendering just 56.9 points per game and rank 43^rd in Division II. The Muleriders' steals per game is another statistic that the group leads the league in with 10.9 per game. Other statistical categories that SAU leads the GAC in are assist/turnover ratio (1.15 | 15^th DII), assists per game (16.6 | 25^th DII), field goal percentage (46.0% | 11^th DII), and fouls per game (13.4 | 10^th DII).
 
A Muleriders that continues to be a bright spot of the Great American Conference is Marlee Bright with her leading the league in assist/turnover ratio (2.90 | 2^nd DII), assists (87 | 9^th DII), assists per game (6.2 | 5^th DII), steals (50 | 6^th DII), and steals per game (3.57 | 6^th DII).
 
Southwestern Oklahoma State at a Glance
Southwestern Oklahoma State has strung together a similar campaign as the Muleriders this far into the season as the Bulldogs enter the contest with a 3-5 record and have just a one-game difference in non-conference record with SAU.
 
Against non-con competition, SWOSU is 4-2 with a pair of losses at #18/16 Lubbock Christian (59-67) and at Missouri Southern (44-49).
 
The Bulldogs come off a split week against Henderson State and Ouachita Baptist in which Southwestern defeated the Reddies in Arkadelphia 89-83 and came up short to the Tigers 50-57 in a defensive battle.
 
Leading the Bulldogs in scoring has been Averi Zinn with 170 total points and 12.1 per game. Averi is also the team's assist leader (46) and steals leader (29). Finally the senior, she is also the team's leader in free throws (36-43) and holds a FT% of 83.7%. One of the few statistics Zinn does not lead in is rebounding with Hailey Grant taking the charge in that category (59).
 
Northwestern Oklahoma State at a Glance
The Rangers enter this week tied with five teams in the Great American Conference at 3-5. Both Southern Arkansas and Southwestern Oklahoma State are included in that group.
 
NWOSU began their season going 3-3 in non-conference action with a season-opening 75-66 win against Winona State followed by a 78-84 loss to Minnesota-Duluth. The Rangers split their next four non-con games including a 72-88 loss at then-ranked #8/13 Pitt State.
 
The Rangers began conference play off right with a 72-62 win against Arkansas Tech, but would then drop their next five of seven contests.
 
Payton Jones has been the shot caller for Northwestern as the senior has accounted for 202 points and averages 14.4. She has been solid at the charity stripe going 55-67 (82.1%) while also being a significant in the paint. Jones has recorded 77 rebounds this season (3rd team) with 19 steals and 9 rebounds. Leading the Rangers in rebounding has been Kira Bass with 86 thus far and 46 offensively.
 
Broadcast Details
You can follow all the action with live stats at MuleriderAthletics.com or watch it live through each team's livestream platforms.
 
Next Up:
The Blue and Gold return home for a four-game stretch to finish out January that will be tipped-off with the first Battle of the Timberlands of 2025 next Thursday against Arkansas-Monticello.