MAGNOLIA, Ark. — Second-year Head Coach Darrick Coach and his Muleriders (4-2 | 0-0 GAC) began play inside the W.T. Watson Center for the 2025-26 season, as the Blue and Gold hosted the Christian Brothers Lady Buccaneers (2-3 | 0-0 GSC) Tuesday night. The Muleriders completely handled their business, as the group dominated in nearly every facet of the game, winning over the Lady Bucs 91-35 in front of an excited W.T. Watson Center.
Southern Arkansas shot an impressive 46.3% (37-80) from the field, while also accounting for a 32.0% (8-25) from beyond the arc. The group was 9-of-14 from the charity stripe, shooting 64.3%.
Despite the dominating win, SAU saw just three members tally for double-digit numbers, but also had the entirety of the roster get to see some time on the court. Out of the 14 Southern Arkansas' to see action against CBU, 12 Muleriders recorded points.
SAU was led in scoring by true freshman Kennedy Moss, as the native of Trophy Club, Texas tallied 14 points along with seven rebounds. Moss was also responsible for an 83.33% from the charity stripe, shooting 5-for-6. Next in scoring for SAU was true freshman Blythe Crawley. The OKC native scored 13 points with efficiency from beyond the arc, making 3-of-5. With her third double-double of the season, and leading the game in rebounds, was Elena Lijo-Rodriguez. The senior was responsible for 12 points against CBU, while also recording 12 boards.
The Muleriders overwhelmed Christian Brothers from the get-go, as Southern Arkansas recorded the games' first 25 points before the Lady Buccaneers were able to score on the Muleriders with a 1:29 left in the first period. Following CBU's first points on a jumper, freshman Kennedy Moss accounted for one more pair of points after banking in on a tipping layup following a Shiloh Fletcher steal, 27-2.
Southern Arkansas did not let up, as the unit opened up the second period with a three-pointer by Johnna Brockman, 30-2, and a made layup by the Morrilton, Arkansas native, 32-2. After the Muleriders gained their 30-point advantage, Christian Brothers cut into its deficit with a pair of made free throws, but the was quickly responded with a Teresa Dorado layup to regain the 30-point lead. SAU then scored the next six before seeing retaliation from the Lady Bucs, as the two Spanish natives (Lijo-Rodriguez & Dorado) accounted for layups, 40-4. CBU went on a bit of a scoring streak, scoring the next six points with free throws and layups. Southern Arkansas was able to score the next seven before seeing CBU score again, as Crawley nailed another three, along with Marlee Bright and Shiloh Fletcher recording good layups for the 47-12 lead at half.
With a Hope Bump three pointer and two Lijo-Rodriguez layups, the Muleriders jumped to a 42-point lead, 54-12, before seeing the Lady Bucs score back with a layup. The effort was all for not though, as Lijo-Rodriguez countered with a layup of her own, 56-14. The two squads went on sort of a back-and-forth stretch, resulting in a 68-20 score at the 3:00 minute mark in the third period. To finish off the period, the two groups each accounted for a free throw, but was sent to the fourth period with a CBU layup, 69-23.
Per usual, the Muleriders began the scoring in the period with Crawley driving to the bucket for a layup, 71-23. CBU responded with a three pointer, but was quickly followed in transition by a three ball from Rain Canguven. The Lady Bucs then accounted for the next four points before Kennedy Moss responded with five points of her own, with a shot from beyond the arc and a pair of free throws. Recording her first point of the season with a free throw was true freshman Ainsley Hall, 80-31. After a few missed shots back-and-forth, the Lady Bucs broke the silence with a made jumper, but was quickly countered by redshirt-freshman's Bella Frisby first career points on a jumper of her own. After a CBU layup and another Frisby jumper, the RS-freshman chipped in a three-pointer from the home corner to go up 87-35. Moss accounted for another two points with free throws, and to cap off the scoring, Ainsley Hall laid the ball up for a final score of 91-35.
Up Next:
Following Thanksgiving week, the Muleriders prepare to return to action inside the W.T. Watson Center, as Southern Arkansas will saddle in for its first weekend of Great American Conference play, beginning on December 4 versus one of the league's preseason favorites in Southern Nazarene for a 5:30 PM tip-off. The Muleriders will then rest that Friday and get set to take on Oklahoma Baptist on December 6 for a 1:00 PM tip-off.
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