Arkansas Tech University and Harding University have been tied for first place in the Great American Conference women’s basketball standings almost every day for the better part of a month.
The time for breaking that tie has arrived.
The Arkansas Tech Golden Suns (17-3 overall, 13-3 GAC) will travel to Rhodes-Reaves Field House in Searcy to take on the Harding Lady Bisons (19-3, 13-3) at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12.
Live coverage will be provided by KCJC 102.3 FM, the River Country KCJC website and www.arkansastechsports.com.
“(Harding) is playing good basketball, like we are,” said Dave Wilbers, ATU head women’s basketball coach. “Coming into the season, I told myself we had to be relevant back in that top half (of the GAC) or maybe even up and competing again for championships. It’s a big game because we’re both tied for first place and both teams are good basketball teams, but there are a lot of tough games left in the season. This is what you come (to ATU) for. You want to have a chance to play for first place, and we have that.”
Arkansas Tech overcame a 16-point, first-half deficit to defeat Harding 84-69 in Russellville on Jan. 22. That victory is one of five times this season the Golden Suns have rallied from a deficit of 10 points or more to win. They have earned eight victories when tied or trailing in the fourth quarter.
ATU is led in scoring by freshman Logan Young of Dover (17.6 points per game). The reigning GAC defensive player of the week, Young notched her ninth game with 20 or more points this season while helping the Golden Suns squeeze past the University of Arkansas-Monticello 74-69 on Monday night.
Harding has bounced back to win five consecutive games since its loss at Arkansas Tech. Freshman Kori Sanders of Lamar scored 17 points and dished out nine assists to pace the Lady Bisons in a 94-77 victory over Ouachita Baptist University on Monday. The 94 points were a season high in scoring for Harding’s women.
The nightcap at Rhodes-Reaves Field House on Thursday between the Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys (8-14, 6-10) and the Harding Bisons (15-7, 11-5) is scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. start.
The Wonder Boys bolstered their hopes of earning a GAC Tournament berth by defeating UAM 73-62 on Monday night. Meanwhile, the Bisons collected their second win over a nationally-ranked opponent this season by taking down No. 20 Ouachita Baptist 79-69.
Arkansas Tech defeated Harding 64-56 in Russellville on Jan. 22. A win on Thursday would give the Wonder Boys a season sweep of the Bisons for the second time in the last three years.
“We have to clean some things up and be better, but I’m proud of the guys,” said Mark Downey, ATU head men’s basketball coach, following the win over UAM. “They’ve kept fighting. When you lose the way we’ve lost seven or eight games, it’s easy to quit. But these guys have kept fighting, and I’m proud of them for that.
“(Harding) is so good at home,” continued Downey. “They make shots at home. They’re going to be excited to play us because they didn’t play very well (in Russellville). We have to play better than we did (on Monday) to beat them. There’s no doubt.”
Talk to you on the radio.
Tech Tidbits is a column written by Sam Strasner, ATU director of university relations and radio play-by-play voice for ATU football and basketball.
