Tweet #theGAC  BARTLESVILLE, Okla. – Henderson State withstood a second-half rally from Southern Nazarene to claim a 78-74 overtime victory in Friday’s first Great American Conference Women’s Basketball Championships quarterfinal contest from the Bruin Fieldhouse.
 
The Reddies (20-9) led by as many as 17 points in the first half, 28-11, and carried a 14-point advantage into the break. They limited the Crimson Storm (17-10) to just 26.9 percent shooting. Conversely, Henderson State made six 3-point field goals in the opening half.
 
Southern Nazarene scored the first 10 points of the second half as part of a 23-8 run that gave the Crimson Storm their first lead, 44-43, since an early 4-2 advantage. Kennedy Gillette scored nine of her team high 19 points during that run.
 
In the final minute of the fourth quarter, Henderson State held a four-point advantage. Abby Niehues cut the margin to two with a layup. After a missed Hailey Estes jumper, Niehues tied the game up with another basket. A missed try by the Reddies’ Ashley Farrar sent the game to overtime.
 
In the extra period, Henderson State scored the first seven points. The Reddies lead remained seven in the final minute until Gillette made her third 3-pointer of game, while being fouled. She missed the try but the rebound bounced right back to her and she knocked down a jumper to cut the margin to 75-73.
 
A Reddie turnover gave the Crimson Storm to ball back with 21 seconds left. Out of a timeout, the Crimson Storm designed an inbounds play got the ball back into the hands of Gillette for a 3-point try. Estes committed a foul on the play to give Gillette three free throws. She missed the first two but converted the third. After two free throws by Farrar, the Crimson Storm failed to get off a tying 3-pointer as Alexus Jones threw an errant pass with 3.1 seconds left. A free throw by Lani Snowden iced the win.
 
The Reddies picked up their second-ever win at the GAC Championships in eight appearances. With the win, the Reddies reached the 20-win mark for the second time in the seven-year tenure of head coach Jill Thomas. Estes, a First-Team All

GAC honoree picked up her league-leading 13^th double-double as she scored 12 points and grabbed 14 rebounds. Blu Jones led the team with 16 points. Snowden and Farrar added 14. Karrington Whaley also notched a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds. Pink Jones provided 10 points.
 
Gillette scored a game-high 19 points and went 3-for-5 from the 3-point arc. Three from the Crimson Storm – Myriam Garcia, Jones and Niehues – registered double-doubles. Niehues added eight blocked shots. 

Henderson State will take on Southeastern Oklahoma State in Saturday’s 5:45 PM semifinal contest. During the regular season, the Reddies claimed a 77-72 at home on January 25. The Savage Storm earned a split with a 94-78 home win on the final Thursday of the regular season.