Suns Clinch No. 2 Seed in GAC Tournament

A fast start to the third quarter allowed Arkansas Tech University to extend two women’s basketball winning streaks on Thursday night.

The Golden Suns (22-3 overall, 18-3 Great American Conference) won their sixth consecutive game overall and their 10th straight meeting with Ouachita Baptist University by defeating the Lady Tigers 74-60 at Vining Arena in Arkadelphia.

With the win, Arkansas Tech clinched the No. 2 seed in the GAC Tournament, which begins on Thursday, March 1, at Bruin Fieldhouse in Bartlesville, Okla.

Ouachita Baptist led by as many as 14 points in the first half and 32-27 at halftime, but back-to-back 3-pointers by Kylie Ladd put the Golden Suns in front to stay at 40-34 with 6:47 left in the period.

Arkansas Tech made nine of its first 12 field goal tries to begin the second half and led 55-45 going to the fourth quarter.

“We were impatient offensively in the first half,” said Dave Wilbers, ATU head coach. “We had a good halftime talk about staying the course and good things would happen. We did just that.”

The Lady Tigers (13-14, 9-12) did not go away, staying within 66-57 with 2:05 remaining. That was when Cheyenne North put it away with consecutive field goals to provide the Suns with a 70-57 advantage with under a minute remaining.

North matched her season high with 22 points. She also made seven assists, grabbed six rebounds and blocked three shots. Tech Lyrik Williams had 17 points and 16 rebounds for her eighth double-double of 2017-18. Ladd finished with 15 points, 12 of which came in the second half.

Arkansas Tech out-rebounded Ouachita 51-30.

Jakyya Clay had a team-high 10 points for the Lady Tigers.

The Golden Suns will play their final 2017-18 regular season game when they host the University of Arkansas-Monticello Cotton Blossoms for a 1 p.m. GAC contest at Tucker Coliseum in Russellville on Saturday, Feb. 24.

Tickets ($5 adults/$3 students and senior citizens) will be available at the door. Faculty, staff and students with their valid ATU identification card will be admitted free of charge.