There’s something about the first quarter for Arkansas Tech University in women’s basketball games against Northwestern Oklahoma State University this season.
The Golden Suns (16-2 overall, 12-2 Great American Conference) scored the first 18 points on Thursday night and rolled to an 84-74 win over the Lady Rangers at Percefull Fieldhouse in Alva, Okla.
Arkansas Tech led 33-8 after one period, bettering the 23-6 advantage they held over Northwestern Oklahoma State after the first quarter when first the teams met on Dec. 2 in Russellville. The Suns won that game 80-45.
Another similarity between the two meetings was the play of Tech freshman guard Jayana Sanders. The Pine Bluff product, who scored 22 points in the Suns’ first win over NWOSU, poured in 18 points during Thursday’s return visit to Alva.
Arkansas Tech led by as many as 27 points early in the second quarter. The Lady Rangers (9-11, 5-9) got as close as 14 points on two occasions late in the first half, but the Golden Suns used an 8-0 run to take a 55-33 lead to the intermission.
Northwestern Oklahoma State made another push in the fourth quarter, drawing within 76-66 with 4:45 remaining. Tech held the Lady Rangers without a made field goal for the next 3:57 and made 6-of-6 free throws in the final 45 seconds to hold on for a 10-point win.
“I saw us keeping them in front of us and forcing them to take tough shots,” said Dave Wilbers, ATU head coach, when asked about his team’s defense down the stretch. “We held them to no second chances, and that was really the key. This was a big-time atmosphere with a lot of students here.”
Lyrik Williams notched 14 points, Kylie Ladd and Cheyenne North scored 13 points apiece and Jacie Higgins had 12 points for the Suns. North grabbed 11 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the season and the seventh of her career.
Jade Jones scored a game-high 21 points and dished out a game-high seven assists for NWOSU.
Tech won its seventh consecutive game and improved to 12-1 in its last 13 games ahead of a showdown at league-leading Southwestern Oklahoma State University (19-1, 14-0) on Saturday, Feb. 3.
The Golden Suns and the nationally 10th-ranked Lady Bulldogs will meet at 11 a.m. Saturday at Pioneer Cellular Events Center in Weatherford, Okla. Radio station KCJC 102.3 FM and www.arkansastechsports.com will provide live coverage.
