Tritons Topple Golden Suns 64-55

Arielle Jackson scored 23 points to lead the University of Missouri-St. Louis to a 64-55 women’s basketball victory over Arkansas Tech University at Tucker Coliseum in Russellville on Sunday.

Jackson’s fourth 20-plus point game of the season helped the Tritons (7-4) win for the seventh time in their last eight games and become the first non-conference opponent to defeat the Golden Suns at Tucker Coliseum since Dec. 14, 2014.

Arkansas Tech (5-5) led 18-17 after one quarter and 32-30 at halftime. The Golden Suns forced UMSL to miss its first six field goal tries of the second half, and Tech’s lead swelled to 43-35 with 2:06 left in the third quarter.

That was when the Tritons took control with a 13-0 run that began with two Laura Szorenyi free throws at the 1:47 mark of the third period and concluded with a Szorenyi layup with 9:26 left in the fourth quarter.

UMSL led 48-43 at that point and maintained an advantage of between three and nine points the rest of the way. The Tritons iced it by making 6-of-8 free throws over the final 1:22.

“I saw us get out of our offense,” said Dave Wilbers, ATU head coach, when asked what changed late in the third quarter. “We were trying to make too many plays too early in the shot clock, after one pass or sometimes no passes. Their experienced showed, and our inexperienced showed. But there are no excuses. We missed some easy shots and didn’t defend at times.”

Hannah Villines paced the Golden Suns with 16 points. Lyrik Williams added 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Tech was 0-of-5 from 3-point range. UMSL finished with a 44-37 rebounding edge.

The Golden Suns will resume the Great American Conference portion of their 2018-19 schedule by facing Southeastern Oklahoma State University on Thursday, Jan. 3.

Tip-off at Bloomer Sullivan Arena in Durant, Okla., is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Radio station KCJC 102.3 FM and www.arkansastechsports.com will provide live coverage.