Arkansas Tech advanced one position to No. 4 in the latest USA Today/ESPN NCAA Division II women’s basketball top 25 poll, which was released by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association on Tuesday, Jan. 4.
The Golden Suns (11-1) have won seven consecutive games, including a 75-63 home win over then 22nd-ranked West Texas A&M and a 68-53 road victory over St. Edward’s University since returning from the holiday break.
This marks the 19th consecutive NCAA Division II women’s basketball top 25 poll that has included the Golden Suns. Arkansas Tech’s women have been ranked among the top 10 teams in the nation in 15 consecutive polls.
Click here to view the complete USA Today/ESPN NCAA Division II women’s basketball top 25 poll.
The Golden Suns rank among the NCAA Division II leaders in field goal percentage (1st, .507), scoring offense (4th, 88.3 points per game), assists (2nd, 22.5 per game), steals (3rd, 17.0 per game) and turnover margin (7th, +8.88 turnovers per game).
Arkansas Tech also has several individuals among the NCAA Division II national leaders.
Senior point guard Laura Beth Anderson of Springdale ranks 12th in the country in assists (5.5 per game) and third in the nation in free throw percentage (.964).
Senior guard Jenny Vining of Marshall is among the most prolific 3-point shooters in NCAA Division II for a second consecutive year. Vining ranks second in the nation in 3-point field goals made (4.0 per game) and 12th in 3-point field goal percentage (.500).
Vining is also 20th in NCAA Division II in steals (3.4 per game).
Senior forward Natalia Santos of Sao Paulo, Brazil, is 16th in the country in scoring (20.3 points per game) and 14th in the nation in field goal percentage (.589).
Other Golden Suns listed among the NCAA Division II national statistical leaders this week include sophomore forward Jessica Weatherford of Bonnerdale (10th in free throw percentage, .917) and freshman point guard Shanae Govan of Crossett (5th in assist-to-turnover ratio, 3.14-to-1).
Arkansas Tech will begin Gulf South Conference play by taking on the Henderson State Lady Reddies (9-3) at the Duke Wells Center in Arkadelphia on Saturday, Jan. 8.
Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. The men’s contest between Arkansas Tech (9-3) and Henderson State (5-7) will follow at 4 p.m.
Both games can be heard on KWKK 100.9 FM and at www.athletics.atu.edu.
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