Suns Put Clamps Down on ECU 68-43

Lock down defense was the key for nationally 13th-ranked Arkansas Tech University on Saturday in a 68-43 win over East Central University in Great American Conference women’s basketball at Tucker Coliseum in Russellville.

The Golden Suns (9-1 overall, 5-1 GAC) earned their eighth consecutive win by holding East Central to 13-of-53 (25 percent) shooting from the field and out-rebounding the Tigers 45-27.

“(East Central) has some really good post players, and I thought our guards did a good job of digging down on them defensively to help our posts,” said Arkansas Tech head coach Dave Wilbers. “And then when they kicked it out, we did a good job closing out on their shooters. We’re rebounding the ball well. We’re blocking out and getting in position. It’s something we’ve really worked on the last two weeks, and I think it’s showing.”

The Golden Suns led 19-13 after one quarter and 37-27 at halftime. A 7-0 spurt early in the third quarter extended Tech’s lead to 44-29, and the margin never dipped below 11 points the rest of the way.

Kelsey McClure scored a game-high 19 points for the Golden Suns. She was 7-of-13 from the field. Cheyenne North added 12 points for Tech, which finished with a 28-8 edge in points in the paint and a 15-2 advantage in second-chance points.

Devon Branch had a team-high 17 points for the Tigers (2-8, 1-5).

The Golden Suns will host Ouachita Baptist University for a 5:30 p.m. GAC contest at Tucker Coliseum on Thursday, Jan. 12.