Box Score
ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – It took ten extra minutes to decide a winner at the Duke Wells Center on Thursday night, but Henderson State defended their home court by defeating SWOSU 101-97 in double overtime.
The game marked the first time this season the Lady Bulldogs allowed an opponent to score over the century mark and it was the first double overtime game for SWOSU since a 61-59 victory over Northeastern State during the 1999-2000 season.
The Lady Bulldogs had a lead as high as 16 points in the first half, but Henderson State closed the half on a 12-2 run to get within two, 41-39, at the break. The Lady Reddies took the lead at the 11:44 mark and they pushed their advantage as high as seven, 74-67, with 4:10 to play.
SWOSU responded with seven straight to tie the game at 74-74 when
Jessica Penner laid in a basket with 1:53 to play and
Kylie Boggess gave SWOSU a 77-76 lead on the next possession as she put in a 3-pointer.
Taryn Sayama made the advantage 78-76 with a free throw with 33 seconds remaining, but Krystal Beachum scored with five seconds remaining to force an extra session.
Fisher and Penner fouled out in the first overtime but late baskets from
Taryn Sayama and
Jaimee Cohen tied the game at 89-89 and sent it to a second overtime. The Lady Bulldogs were held without a basket until the final 10 seconds of the second extra session, when
Sarina Sayama hit a 3-pointer that made it 99-97 but free throws by Beachum sealed the Lady Reddies victory.
Beachum turned in a record performance for Henderson State, scoring a Great American Conference record 41 points in 49 minutes of action. Three others reached double figures for HSU, who managed to split the season series with the Bulldogs after a 90-82 SWOSU victory back on January 16.
Six of the eight players who entered the game for SWOSU scored 10 or more points, led by Fisher who had 23 points and seven rebounds before fouling out. Penner and Bates each had 15 points,
Taryn Sayama had 13 and Boggess and Cohen each put up 10.
The Lady Bulldogs drop to 14-9 on the year with the loss and they are 11-6 in conference play, one-half game ahead of both Arkansas Tech and Southeastern Oklahoma State for second place in the standings. SWOSU is back in action on Saturday afternoon at Ouachita Baptist, tipping off at 2 pm.
