Suns Come Back From 18 Down, Beat OBU

Nationally fifth-ranked Arkansas Tech used an 11-0 run late in the second half to complete an 82-79 come from behind win over the Ouachita Baptist Lady Tigers at Vining Arena in Arkadelphia on Saturday afternoon.

The Golden Suns (16-2 overall, 5-1 Gulf South Conference) trailed 73-67 with 4:02 remaining, but back-to-back 3-pointers by Jenny Vining and Lindsey Root tied the score at 73-73 at the 3:09 mark.

Natalia Santos scored a layup with 2:16 to go to put Tech in front for good. Two free throws from Laura Beth Anderson and one from Santos completed the 11-0 run and gave the Suns a 78-73 advantage with 1:04 left.

Ouachita Baptist’s A’Laeshia Adams stopped Tech’s run by making a 3-pointer with 45.5 seconds left, but Arkansas Tech made 4-of-4 from the free throw line and held the Lady Tigers without another made field goal from there on out.

With the win, the Golden Suns claim sole possession of second place in the GSC West Division — one-half game behind nationally third-ranked Delta State (18-1, 6-1). It was Tech’s eighth consecutive women’s basketball win over Ouachita Baptist.

The Lady Tigers made 13 of their first 17 field goal tries to open the game with a 34-16 lead. Three 3-pointers in rapid succession from Root helped the Suns pull within 46-42 at halftime.

Ouachita used a 10-1 spurt to take a 67-60 advantage midway through the second half, but the final run of the night and the game belonged to Arkansas Tech.

Vining and Anderson led the Suns with 17 points apiece. Jessica Weatherford notched 14 points and 12 rebounds, while Root finished with 12 points.

Beulah Osueke, Domino Miller and Adams scored 16 points apiece for Ouachita Baptist (14-5, 5-2).

The Golden Suns will return home and play their next three games at Tucker Coliseum in Russellville. FirstĀ up are the Henderson State Lady Reddies at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 3.

Tickets will be available at the door and those with a valid Tech identification card will be admitted free.

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