NWOSU Lady Rangers (9-12, 7-7 GAC) at Arkansas Tech Golden Suns (17-3, 12-2 GAC) When: Thursday, Feb. 12, 5:30 p.m. Where: Tucker Coliseum, Russellville Radio/Internet: KWKK 100.9 FM/www.arkansastechsports.com Series: Tech leads 8-1 About the Golden Suns: Arkansas Tech can gain a share of first place in the GAC women’s basketball standings with a win on Thursday night. The Golden Suns are one-half game behind the front-running Harding Lady Bisons (17-4, 13-2), who will be idle on Thursday. Junior guard Fabiana Monte scored a season-high 24 points to lead the Golden Suns to a 66-57 victory over Northwestern Oklahoma State at Alva on Jan. 8. Arkansas Tech made 31-of-37 (84 percent) from the free throw line and out-rebounded the Rangers 38-22. The Suns are No. 24 in this week’s USA Today Sports Women’s Basketball Coaches Association NCAA Division II top 25 poll. About the Lady Rangers: Northwestern Oklahoma State has won three of its last four games, including a 63-59 overtime triumph over Ouachita Baptist University on Saturday. The Lady Rangers are third in the GAC in steals (9.0 per game) and turnover margin (+2.57 per game). NWOSU head coach Eric Bozeman is an Arkansas Tech alumnus. He was an All-Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference basketball selection for the Wonder Boys in 1981. The Lady Rangers have never defeated Arkansas Tech in a women’s basketball game at Tucker Coliseum. NWOSU Rangers (6-16, 5-9 GAC) at Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys (10-12, 6-8 GAC) When: Thursday, Feb. 12, 7:30 p.m. Where: Tucker Coliseum, Russellville Radio/Internet: KWKK 100.9 FM/www.arkansastechsports.com Series: Tech leads 5-1 About the Wonder Boys: Arkansas Tech moved inside the cut line to earn one of eight men’s basketball berths in the 2015 GAC Tournament with a 69-65 win at Southwestern Oklahoma State University last Thursday. Senior guards Mike Balogun (23 points), Tyler Friedel (15 points) and Clarence Willard (13 points) led the way for the Wonder Boys. Tech is in seventh place in the GAC standings with six regular season league games remaining. The top eight teams in the final standings will participate in the GAC Tournament March 5-8 in Bartlesville, Okla. About the Rangers: Northwestern Oklahoma State has lost three of its last four games. The Rangers are 2-10 away from home this season. Freshman guard Brandon Green is tied for the best assist-to-turnover ratio (2.5-to-1) in the GAC. Northwestern Oklahoma State made just 21-of-60 attempts (35 percent) from the floor, including 4-of-22 from 3-point range, in a 76-58 loss to Arkansas Tech on Jan. 8.]]>
