MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Southern Arkansas (11-11 | 6-10) prepare for a pair of trips in the Natural State as the unit is set for matchups with its Timberlands rival Arkansas-Monticello on Thursday at 5:30 PM. To conclude the weekend, the Muleriders will travel to Searcy, Arkansas for their contest with Harding at 3:00 PM on Saturday.
Series History vs. UAM
The Cotton Blossoms lead the all-time series 34-52, but the ones with the last laugh have been the Muleriders… for the previous two meetings. The Blue and Gold defeated the Blossoms in Magnolia the last time they saw each other as the Muleriders claimed victory 68-66 in an overtime nail-biter.
Series History vs. HU
Harding leads Southern Arkansas in the all-time series 21-56 and has been the victors in the last seven matchups against the Muleriders. The Blue and Gold's most recent triumph against the Bisons came in 2021 with an 88-76 win. In the last outing between the Muleriders and Harding, Southern Arkansas hung close with the conference favorites in all but one period of play and fell 68-79.
A Look at SAU
The Blue and Gold come off a split weekend in which the group took down East Central 56-52 while on the road to claim a spot ahead of the Tigers in the standings as long as the Muleriders are at least tied with ECU
SAU then traveled to Durant, Oklahoma to take on Southeastern Oklahoma State, but fell to the Savage Storm with a 56-74 loss to a very hot SE team.
Accounting for back-to-back-to-back 44-point weekends was
Tequaza Chambers as the senior recorded her third 20+ point outing in the last five games. Qua is the by far the team's leading scorer now with 296 points to her name and an average of 13.5 per game.
A Look at UAM
The last time these rivals faced each other was at the comfort of the Muleriders' home court as Southern Arkansas claimed their triumph against the Cotton Blossoms in a contest that never gave a definitive answer as to who was going to win the tightly-contested battle. The groups played so close to one another that they needed a round of overtime to solidify a victor, which ended up being the Muleriders.
Since coming up short to SAU in January, UAM has dropped four of its five contests that followed, with the unit's lone win coming against Arkansas Tech in another overtime contest, 63-60.
Bailey Harris has been towards the top of the Great American Conference's rankings for scoring as the senior has accounted for 311 points (6th) and is averaging 14.1 points per game (8th). Harris is also the Blossoms leader in field goals attempted (292 | 5th), made (120 | 5th), and field goal percentage (41.1 | 7th).
The UAM bench is one of the league's best as the group has accounted for 24.8 points per game and ranks second in the GAC
A Look at HU
Last time between these two Natural State opponents, the Bisons seized the victory thanks to a strong second period as the Muleriders hung with one of the league's best teams for the majority of the contest that ended in a 68-79 final.
Harding since its trip to Magnolia has gone 7-3 with losses to Southeastern Oklahoma State (49-62), Northwestern Oklahoma State (61-63), and Southern Nazarene (62-68). For most of the campaign, the Bisons have led the Great American Conference standings up until the group fell to the Crimson Storm last weekend.
Sage Hawley leads the GAC in multiple facets of the game such as her field goals attempted (328 | 26th nationally) and made (161 | 17th nationally). Hawley is also the conference leader in rebounds per game (9.7) and total rebounds with 214.
Currently, the Bisons boast the league's top offense, averaging 70.6 ppg.
Broadcast Details:
You can watch all the action through the Mulerider Athletics YouTube channel or follow the live stats at MuleriderAthletics.com.
Next Up:
The Muleriders are set to return to the W.T. Watson Center next week as Southern Arkansas will take on Northwestern Oklahoma State on Thursday at 5:30 PM and Southwestern Oklahoma State on Saturday at 1:00 PM
