Box Score MEMPHIS—Defense ruled the day Saturday afternoon at Canale Arena as the Christian Brothers University Lady Bucs edged Henderson State 55-51 in a battle for third place in the Gulf South Conference West Division.

The Lady Bucs (12-5, 3-2 GSC West) smothered Henderson State (11-9, 2-3) as they built a 29-17 lead over the first 24 minutes, but a DeAndra Thomas layup sparked a 12-1 run that trimmed the margin to just one point, 30-29, with 12:13 remaining.

The teams stayed evenly matched for the next 10 minutes with neither team able to pull away, with the Lady Bucs taking the lead for good on a Sheena DeBose (Tunica, Miss./Rosa Fort HS) layup with 3:12 remaining.  A Tameka Wooten (Cordova, Tenn./Cordova HS) three-pointer with 1:48 remaining lifted the margin to 51-47, and Normanique Johnson (Olive Branch, Miss./Olive Branch HS) sank a basket with 55 seconds remaining to push the margin to 53-47.  The Lady Bucs held on from there, with Jasmine Ellis (Memphis, Tenn./Central HS) rebounding a HSU miss and making a free throw with three seconds remaining to seal the victory.

DeBose led the Lady Bucs with 17 points to go with eight rebounds, and Wooten had 15 points, eight rebounds, and four assists.  Ellis grabbed 13 boards to go with seven points and a block.

Danyelle Harris led Henderson State with 10 points and eight rebounds.

The Lady Bucs shot 34 percent (17-of-50) from the floor while holding the Lady Reddies to just 30 percent (18-of-60).  HSU out-rebounded the Lady Bucs 40-39, and both teams committed 18 turnovers.

The Lady Bucs hit the road Thursday night at 5:30 p.m. to face Southern Arkansas before coming home Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. to face No. 9 Arkansas Tech for Homecoming.