Beware the injured Golden Sun.
Sophomore guard Ke’Vonshaye Stackhouse overcame a right ankle injury to match her season high with 21 points on Saturday and lead Arkansas Tech University to a 75-54 win over Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva, Okla.
Stackhouse fell to the Percefull Fieldhouse floor with three minutes left in the second quarter. She did not return for the rest of the half, but Duke Waldon, head athletic trainer at ATU, was able to get her ready for the third quarter.
She responded by scoring 18 points in the second half to help the Golden Suns (7-11 overall, 4-8 Great American Conference) begin the second half of their league schedule with a road victory.
Stackhouse was 5-of-9 from 3-point range and 6-of-6 at the free throw line.
“Ke’Vonshaye is a warrior,” said Dave Wilbers, ATU head coach. “She already had a double tape job on that ankle. Duke may have been the MVP today. We played a solid game all the way around…probably our best of the year.”
Neither side distinguished itself in the art of shooting the basketball during the first half. The Golden Suns were 9-of-28 (32 percent) from the field during the opening 20 minutes, while the Lady Rangers connected on 8-of-36 (22 percent) first-half field goal attempts.
An 8-0 run to begin the second quarter helped Arkansas Tech claim a 24-21 edge at the intermission.
The Golden Suns took control midway through the third quarter with a 14-2 spurt. Hannah Villines capped the run with a 15-foot jumper to give Tech a 40-26 margin with 4:58 remaining in the period.
Villines’ 6-footer from the right baseline on the final shot of the quarter sent the Suns to the final 10 minutes leading 47-34. Stackhouse opened the fourth quarter with a 3-pointer and Tech maintained at least a 13-point advantage the rest of the way.
The Golden Suns shot 50 percent from the field in the second half (15-of-30) and out-rebounded NWOSU 47-33 overall.
Villines finished with 18 points. Ryann Goodsell had a season-high 15 points and added nine rebounds for Arkansas Tech.
Bailey Brown and Bailey Forell scored 13 points apiece for the Lady Rangers (6-13, 3-9).
The Golden Suns will host East Central University for a 5:30 p.m. GAC contest at Tucker Coliseum in Russellville on Thursday, Jan. 31.
Beginning Thursday, seven of Arkansas Tech’s final 10 conference doubleheaders this season will be played at home.
Tickets ($5 adults and $3 students/senior citizens) will be available at the door. Those with a valid ATU identification card will receive free admission.
Live coverage will be available from KCJC 102.3 FM and www.arkansastechsports.com.
