Arkansas Tech University clinched its third consecutive 20-win women’s basketball season and took another step toward earning a top-two seed in the Great American Conference Tournament by defeating Henderson State University 82-73 at the Duke Wells Center in Arkadelphia on Saturday.
Anissa Pounds scored a career-high 34 points as the nationally 19th-ranked Golden Suns (20-4 overall, 16-4 GAC) defeated the Reddies (8-18, 8-12) for an eighth consecutive meeting.
Pounds was 9-of-13 from the field, including 7-of-11 from 3-point range, and she made 9-of-10 free throw tries. The senior guard from Kotka, Finland, matched Cheyenne North for the most points by a Golden Sun in a game this season.
“(Pounds) is playing top level basketball right now,” said Tech head coach Dave Wilbers. “You see the points, but she is also competing hard. She did a good job defensively today on (Haleigh) Henson. Anissa is a warrior. She likes a challenge, and she has so much experience that it really rubbed off on the other girls today.”
Arkansas Tech scored the first seven points of the game and led 19-12 after one quarter. Four straight points by Kelsey McClure followed by four consecutive points from Kylie Ladd added up to an 8-0 Golden Suns’ run over a span of 1:25 early in the second quarter.
Tech led 27-14 at that juncture and 42-29 at the intermission. A 7-0 spurt late in the third quarter helped the Golden Suns open a 64-45 margin with 43 seconds left in the period.
Eleven straight HSU points cut Tech’s 64-56 with 6:32 to go in the fourth quarter. The Reddies pulled within 74-71 with 1:15 remaining, but a Henderson State turnover with 47.6 seconds left shifted the momentum in the Golden Suns’ favor. Tech made 8-of-10 free throws over the final 44.6 seconds to put it away.
Torrie Thompson scored 17 points for the Reddies (8-18, 8-12).
The Golden Suns will visit East Central University for a 5:30 p.m. GAC contest at the Kerr Activities Center in Ada, Okla., on Thursday, Feb. 23. Radio station KCJC 102.3 FM and www.arkansastechsports.com will provide live coverage.
