Nationally 21st-ranked Arkansas Tech University added to its overall and home women’s basketball winning streaks by breezing past Northwestern Oklahoma State University 90-48 in Great American Conference play at Tucker Coliseum in Russellville on Saturday.
The Golden Suns (15-2 overall, 13-0 GAC) scored the first eight points of the game and led the rest of the way. Tech held a 24-9 edge after one quarter, extended that margin to 21 points in the second quarter and held a 43-25 advantage at halftime.
Northwestern Oklahoma State (1-17, 0-13) got as close as 15 points early in the third quarter, but an 8-0 Arkansas Tech run pushed its lead to 53-30 with 4:48 to go in the period. The Suns maintained at least a 21-point spread the rest of the way.
Arkansas Tech extended its home winning streak to 17 games and its overall winning streak to nine games. The Lady Rangers suffered their 13th consecutive loss.
One of the keys to victory was the Golden Suns’ defensive job on NWOSU leading scorer Kamera Bozeman. Tech held her to nine points, and many of the Lady Rangers’ 22 turnovers were the result of trying to get Bozeman the basketball in the face of double and triple teams on the 6-foot-1 center.
“I thought it was really good individual defense,” said Golden Suns head coach Dave Wilbers. “Aujana (Dawkins), Dani (Danielle Frachiseur) and Caroline (Eubanks) all did a really nice job on (Bozeman), and the rest of the team deserves credit, too. We did a great job with backside help. A lot of the credit goes to (assistant) Coach Ro (Roman Tubner). He put together a great game plan.”
Tech’s Fatima Adams scored 19 of her game-high 28 points in the first half. She was 12-of-16 from the field and was able to rest with her fellow starters during the fourth quarter.
Anissa Pounds added 11 points and Kelsey McClure had 10 points for the Golden Suns, who improved to 5-0 all-time in home games against Northwestern Oklahoma State.
Ashley Pride and Jaylan Robinson paced the Lady Rangers with 12 points apiece.
The Golden Suns will visit Oklahoma Baptist University for a 5:30 p.m. GAC contest in Shawnee, Okla., on Thursday, Feb. 4. Radio station KCJC 102.3 FM and www.arkansastechsports.com will have live coverage.
