Nationally 10th-ranked Southwestern Oklahoma State University remained undefeated in Great American Conference play and extended its women’s basketball winning streak to 12 games by outlasting Arkansas Tech University 74-62 at the Pioneer Cellular Event Center in Weatherford, Okla., on Saturday.
The Golden Suns (16-3 overall, 12-3 GAC) led 49-46 late in the third period, but point guard Kylie Ladd picked up her fourth personal foul with 2:35 left in the period. She checked out for the next five minutes of game time, and the Lady Bulldogs took advantage by putting together a 12-3 run.
When Ladd returned at the 7:43 mark of the fourth period, Southwestern Oklahoma State held a 58-52 lead.
“That was a big momentum thing,” said Dave Wilbers, ATU head coach, when asked about Ladd’s fourth personal foul. “We need Kylie on the floor. She picked up some hustle fouls, and that’s just the way life goes on the road. We battled well today. I’m proud of the team. We’ll learn from this.”
Arkansas Tech pulled within 65-62 at the 2:22 mark behind a 17-foot jumper by Cheyenne North and a pair of Jacie Higgins free throws.
SWOSU (20-1, 15-0) responded by closing the game on a 9-0 run. The Lady Bulldogs limited the Golden Suns to 7-of-32 shooting from the field in the second half, including 2-of-15 in the fourth quarter.
North finished with 16 points, 12 rebounds, six blocked shots, three assists and two steals. Jayana Sanders added 12 points for Tech, which saw its seven-game winning streak come to an end.
Hailey Tucker and Tyra Aska paced the Lady Bulldogs with 16 points apiece.
The Golden Suns will host Southern Nazarene University for a 5:30 p.m. GAC contest at Tucker Coliseum in Russellville on Thursday, Feb. 8.
Tickets ($5 adults/$3 students and senior citizens) will be available at the door. Faculty, staff and students with their valid ATU identification card will be admitted free of charge.
