MAGNOLIA, Ark. – The Mulerider Women (12-14 | 7-13) make their final push to try and make the Great American Conference Tournament after just over a year hiatus from the bracket of competition as the unit is set to take on Ouachita Baptist (9-15 | 5-15) on Thursday night at home for a 5:30 PM tip-off and Arkansas Tech (6-18 | 4-16) on Saturday in Russellville, Arkansas for a 1:00 PM tip-off.
 
Thursday night's contest marks the final outing inside the W.T. Watson Center for seven Mulerider Women as Tequaza Chambers, Chloe Wilbanks, Addy Tremie, Haylee Mitchell, Crystal Ortiz, Riley Stanford, and Jada Gasaway will all be honored during their senior night ceremony prior to the 5:30 PM tip.
 
SAU at a Glance
Southern Arkansas is coming off its first 0-2 week since the last time the group faced Southwestern Oklahoma State and Northwestern Oklahoma State as the Muleriders once again fell to the western Oklahoma squads.
Leading the way in the Great American Conference for assist/turnover ratio (2.44 | 5th DII), total assists (132 | 19th DII), assists per game (5.1 | 21st DII), total steals (84 | 8th DII), and steals per game (3.23 | 7th DII) is Marlee Bright.
The Muleriders' leading scorer this season, and for 7 of the last ten games, has been Tequaza Chambers. Chambers will see her last round of action inside the W.T. Watson Center on Thursday night after she is honored for her career and her time at Southern Arkansas. Qua also ranks in the top eight of the league for field goal percentage (48.2% | 2nd GAC), field goals made (136 | 6th GAC), free throw percentage (81.3% | 6th GAC), free throws made (74 | 8th GAC), total points (369 | 7th GAC), points per game (14.2 | 8th GAC), total steals | 51 | 3rd GAC), and steals per game (1.96 | 3rd GAC).
Addy Tremie continues to be dangerous for teams when having to guard the three-pointer as she has accounted for 32.7% from the range and ranks third in percentage, makes (56), and three-pointers per game (2.15).
 
OUA at a Glance
Since Southern Arkansas defeated the Tigers in Arkadelphia in mid-December, the unit has gone 7-12 as they are currently riding a three-game loss as their most recent victory came at home against Henderson State with a 70-52 triumph.
Last time out, the Muleriders had controlled the majority of the first half in Bill Vining Arena going into the break up 41-32. Ouachita responded in force for the third period as the Tigers went on an 18-8 run in the quarter and claimed the lead at 50-49. SAU regained its momentum in the final quarter with a 15-8 run and defeated the Tigers for the first time since the 2021-22 season.
Ouachita Baptist has been quite efficient this season from the three-point line, so much so that it leads the Great American Conference in three-point percentage (35.0) and ranks 20th in Division II.
Responsible for the majority of the unit's shots from the arc has been Laney Mears and Madeleine Tipton. Both athletes have accounted for 39 made three-pointers up to this point and rank eighth in the conference.
 
ATU at a Glance
The last time these two in-state foes met, the Muleriders came out on top for the first time since the 2019-20 campaign. The vast majority of the all-time series between the Golden Suns and the Muleriders has been dominated by Arkansas Tech as the group leads the series 9-79, with win number nine coming this season in December.
In December, Southern Arkansas defeated ATU 81-70, also the first double-digit win since 2006, and from then on, the Golden Suns have gone 3-13 with one of those wins coming over Harding (65-59).
Arkansas Tech has seen its fair share of charity stripe opportunities this season as the group ranks second in the league for free throw attempts with an average of 17.71 per game. While they have made it to the line many times this year, the unit is also 11th in the GAC for free throw percentage at 66.1%. While having a negative rebound margin, the squad is the second-best rebounding crew in the conference with an average of 38.33 per outing and 26.6 defensive boards per game (2nd GAC).
 
Broadcast Details:
You can watch all the action through the live coverage links provided on the Mulerider Athletics website located at www.MuleriderAthletics.com/coverage