Listen to the broadcast over the Internet. “We’ve improved in almost every area of basketball,” said Wilbers, who is 148-31 in six seasons as Arkansas Tech head women’s basketball coach. “As far as the offensive end, we’re taking better shots. Our team has done a great job of running our offense. This is definitely one of the better man-to-man defensive teams that we’ve had over the past six seasons. Probably the strongest aspect of our team is that we have gotten a lot tougher as the year has gone along. It’s been a fun group to work with because they listen well and we rarely have bad practices. The team knows what the stakes are right now.” The Golden Suns enter the postseason on an eight-game winning streak. They have only been defeated in regulation once since the start of the 2013 calendar year, and that one setback in regulation came on a day when they were without the services of two starters due to illness and injury. Arkansas Tech was 2-0 against UA-Monticello during the regular season. The Suns defeated the Cotton Blossoms 70-63 in Monticello on Jan. 17 and 73-53 in Russellville on Feb. 21. Tech held a 16-0 edge over UAM in fast break points in their most recent meeting. “We need to find a way to get some easy baskets,” said Wilbers. “Whether it is through transition, at the free throw line or on offensive rebounds and put backs, those are key points in a game. The games will be closer because there is so much familiarity. Everyone knows everyone else’s style of play and personnel.” Jessica Weatherford and Rosie Silva provide the inside-out tandem that makes the Golden Suns go. A senior forward from Bonnerdale, Weatherford ranks fourth in the GAC in scoring (15.6 points per game), eighth in rebounding (7.4 per game) and fourth in field goal percentage (.504) this season. Her 1,547 career points rank 13th in Arkansas Tech women’s basketball history in career scoring. Weatherford is also listed among the Golden Suns’ all-time leaders in career rebounds (4th, 814) and career free throws made (6th, 401). A senior guard from Caracas, Venezuela, Silva leads the GAC for the 2012-13 season in both steals (5.3 per game) and assists (4.9 per game). She ranks sixth in the conference in scoring (14.9 points per game). Silva will have an opportunity to make Arkansas Tech history this weekend. She has 264 career steals, three away from tying and four away from breaking the school record held by two-time All-American Jennifer Richardson, who made 267 steals for Golden Suns from 1994-98. UA-Monticello is led by freshman forward Jordan Goforth of Plano, Texas. She is averaging 12.4 points per game, but two of her best scoring efforts came against Arkansas Tech. Goforth averaged 20.5 points per contest and was 18-of-26 from the field in two outings against the Golden Suns during the regular season. Other first-round games in the women’s bracket at the GAC Tournament on Thursday will pit third-seeded Harding against sixth-seeded Southeastern Oklahoma State at noon, No. 2 seed Southwestern Oklahoma State versus No. 7 seed Henderson State at 2:30 p.m. and fourth-seeded East Central against fifth-seeded Ouachita Baptist at 8:30 p.m. The semifinals are scheduled for Saturday afternoon and the championship game is set to tip-off at 1 p.m. Sunday.]]>
