No. 5 Suns Top No. 22 WTAMU 75-63

Laura Beth Anderson scored a career-high 19 points to lead the nationally fifth-ranked Arkansas Tech Golden Suns to a 75-63 win over the nationally 22nd-ranked West Texas A&M Lady Buffs at Tucker Coliseum in Russellville on Wednesday night.

Anderson (photographed) was 6-of-11 from the field and 7-of-7 at the free throw line.

She also made six assists and seven rebounds as the Golden Suns (10-1) extended their home winning streak to 26 consecutive games.

West Texas A&M (6-4) led 23-17 with 7:19 left in the first half, but nine straight Arkansas Tech points put the Suns in front for the first time.

Tech closed the first half on a 20-8 run and led 37-31 at halftime.

A Jamie Simmons layup with 17:31 left cut the Golden Suns’ edge to 39-35. Then came the decisive stretch in the game as Arkansas Tech held the Lady Buffs without a point for the next 6:02 and the Suns opened a 54-35 advantage.

The margin never dipped below 11 points the rest of the way. Combined with its 65-62 loss to Northeastern State (Okla.) on Dec. 20, West Texas A&M suffered consecutive losses for the first time since February 2009.

Arkansas Tech was 25-of-43 (58 percent) from the field and the Suns finished with a 38-21 rebounding edge.

All five Tech starters reached double figures in scoring. In addition to Anderson, Natalia Santos netted 13 points, Jenny Vining contributed 11 points and Shaquilah Davis and Jessica Weatherford had 10 points apiece.

Santos also grabbed a career-high 16 rebounds.

West Texas A&M was 26-of-40 (40 percent) from the field. Arkansas Tech has held 50 consecutive opponents below 50 percent shooting from the field.

Megan McClain scored a team-high 17 points for the Lady Buffs. She also had seven assists, five steals and four rebounds.

The Golden Suns will visit St. Edward’s University for a 6 p.m. non-conference game in Austin, Texas, on Monday, Jan. 3.

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