By COURTLIN HAYGARTH | HSU Sports Network

ARKADELPHIA — Henderson State scored big in the first half, outscoring Northwestern Oklahoma State 34-19 on its way to a fourth GAC win, defeating the Lady Rangers 72-64 inside the Duke Wells Center.
 
Gracie Raby recorded her first double-double of the season with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Along with Raby, Ashley Farrar and Abbie Jiles helped provide the points, scoring 19 and 12 points, respectively. Sonni Martin had no trouble finding open teammates against NWOSU, recording a game-high seven assists while also tallying seven points.  
 
An early layup from Farrar put the Reddies on the board first, but NWOSU quickly responded, scoring six straight to lead 6-2. A three-pointer by Farrar and a layup from Raby put HSU ahead at the first media timeout, 7-6. Henderson outscored the Lady Rangers 10-0 in the final four minutes of the period, leading 20-8 after the first ten minutes. The Reddies had four different players connect from deep in the opening frame.
 
Farrar connected on back-to-back triples at the start of the second period to give Henderson a 16-point lead, 26-10. A two-minute drought where neither side could find the basket was ended by a layup from JJ Eddens with 1:17 left before halftime, HSU leading 31-17. Olivia Allen scored her second three-pointer of the game before the Lady Rangers made the final bucket of the half. Henderson led 34-19 after 20 minutes played.
 
At the break, HSU had 22 points off turnovers compared to NWOSU’s zero, shooting 34.2 percent from the field and 38.1 percent from the three-point line. Farrar led the team in scoring after one half played with 11 points, while Martin had six assists.
 
Farrar found success early on in the second half making three straight baskets inside the paint to put the Reddies up 44-29. The Lady Rangers began to chip away at HSU’s 15-point lead, scoring nine points to end the half while holding HSU scoreless for the last four minutes of the period. NWOSU cut the deficit to six as Henderson led 46-40 heading into the fourth period.
 
An early trip to the foul line for Northwestern Oklahoma State would see the Reddies’ lead shrink to four as the Lady Rangers converted both attempts. However, a 7-0 run for HSU that featured a three-pointer from Jiles and a layup from Tamia Templeton re-established the Reddies’ double-digit advantage, 53-42. NWOSU sent HSU to the foul line four times in the final minute before the buzzer ended the game.
 
Henderson State (7-6, 4-3) remains at home for its next game against Southwestern Oklahoma State on Saturday at 3 p.m.