ARKADELPHIA, Ark. — After pulling together the first three victories of the Arkansas series, Southern Nazarene put the icing on the cake Monday evening as they knocked off Henderson State, earning that fourth and final win on the Reddies' home floor.
Two years ago, the meeting was much different as the Reddies (12-6, 7-5 GAC) defeated the Storm in the first round of the 2020 GAC Championships. Since then, COVID protocols delayed the awaited rematch. Finally getting the chance to tip-off together again, the Storm (12-7, 7-5 GAC) maintained their aggression from the previous three Arkansas contests and handed HSU their fifth conference loss.
Another Storm defensive shutdown, the Reddies saw their lowest scoring game of the season, only putting up 62 that evening. SNU's 44 percent shooting clip also got the best of the Reddies as their 37 percent wasn't enough to combat the game-long deficit.
It was a hot start for the Storm, shooting 53 percent in the first quarter as they led by 11 (18-7) moving into the second period. The offensive fleet was led by SNU's leading scorer Cassandra Awatt as she put up 11 of the Storm's 18 points.
Midway through the second, Jaycee Soap's three ball would extend the lead to 23-16. The Reddies cut the deficit down to five, seconds before the halftime buzzer, but Soap got the famous euro-step layup to fall through, putting SNU up 30-23 heading to the locker rooms.
Out of the half, Henderson pulled together a quick comeback late in the third quarter as a couple of Reddie buckets put them a single bucket behind the Storm at 46-44.
Henderson continued their fight, tieing the contest for the first time 20 seconds into the fourth at 46-46. SNU turned up the defensive heat and halted the Reddies with a couple of steals in the backcourt. The Storm maintained a lead the whole way through, but the Reddies offensive efforts followed closely behind.
SNU's lead was cut to one just under four minutes left of play at 53-52. Kennedy Gillette's layup and two good foul shots brought the lead up to five with nearly two minutes remaining. Henderson put the Storm in the bonus, getting Emily Monaghan to the line twice to sink in four free throws. The Reddies would send Gillette and Awatt to the line, extending their lead to 66-57.
With 13 seconds remaining, Henderson got lucky, scoring five extra points, but the Storm's lead was too great and they came away with the 66-62 victory, going 4-0 on their Arkansas trek.
Awatt definitely left her mark in Arkansas, securing another double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds, making that her fourth consecutive double-double all within the last week.
Abby Niehues was one block short of a triple-double, scoring 10 on the night while grabbing 14 rebounds and blocking nine shots.
Soap's offense gave SNU that extra push against the Reddies, tallying 15 points to go along with three assists.
Monaghan was another force for the Storm, scoring 11 to go along with six boards and four assists.
Gillette capped off SNU's offensive showing, putting up nine and grabbing five boards.
Bringing home a 4-0 record back to Bethany, the Storm have an unusual schedule ahead, welcoming Henderson to the Sawyer Center Thursday, January 27th with a 5:30 p.m. tip time, after just seeing the Storm three days prior.
