The process of building a basketball team took a positive step for the Arkansas Tech University women on Wednesday night.
The Golden Suns (4-4 overall, 2-2 Great American Conference) rolled past Southern Arkansas University 74-52 to stop a two-game losing skid and earn their 14th consecutive win in games at Tucker Coliseum against the Lady Muleriders.
“This has been a good challenge for me as a coach because I’m teaching more, which I love to do,” said Dave Wilbers, ATU head coach, when asked about his young team. “We’re going to have our ups and downs this season, but what I like about this team is they are very coachable. They are good students, and as long as they continue coming to practice ready to work and listen, we’re going to continue to improve.”
Arkansas Tech made seven of its first 10 field goal tries and built a 20-6 lead after one quarter. Southern Arkansas put together an 8-0 run midway through the second quarter to pull within 28-21 before Ryann Goodsell reclaimed the momentum for the Golden Suns.
Goodsell’s 3-point play at the 4:58 mark of the period pushed Tech’s lead back into double figures and the Suns went on to hold a 37-25 edge at halftime.
Back-to-back layups by Tech’s Jacie Higgins and Hannah Villines to begin the second half set the tone for the rest of the evening. Ke’Vonshaye Stackhouse notched a 3-point play with 7:52 remaining in the third quarter to push the margin to 44-27.
The Golden Suns put the game away by holding SAU without a point for a span of more than five minutes in the fourth quarter.
Stackhouse, Higgins and Lyrik Williams paced Tech with 16 points apiece.
Ariana Guinn had a team-high 16 points for SAU (1-7, 0-4).
The Golden Suns will step out of conference play for a 2 p.m. home game against Lane College on Sunday, Dec. 16, at Tucker Coliseum.
