RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. — The Arkansas Tech women's basketball team turned back a solid Henderson State side Saturday afternoon at Tucker Coliseum, using hot shooting, a big rebounding edge and sturdy play in the paint to get the second half of the Great American Conference season started with an 82-73 victory.

Fatima Adams poured in 25 points — 17 in the first half — and grabbed 10 rebounds to help lift the Golden Suns (15-2, 10-1 GAC.)Danielle Frachiseur added 12 points and five rebounds, while Anissa Pounds scored 14 of her 17 points in the second half to help hold off a late charge from the Reddies (6-11, 4-7 GAC). The Suns shot 55 percent for the game, outrebounded Henderson 37-27 and had assists on 22 of their 33 buckets.

"We did a really good job late in the game of executing and playing really good defense on the perimeter," head coach Dave Wilbers said. "I'm real proud of the team. It was a tough game. Give Henderson State credit, they're a much improved team, and they're going to get better as the year goes on. You just have to gut it out in conference play."

After leading for 17:30 of the first half, Tech saw its slim two-point lead at the break slip away, as the Reddies netted a 14-7 run over the first five minutes of the second to take a 52-47 lead. Jacinda Myers-Sanders snapped the Suns' scoreless streak with a lay-in at 12:23, and Fabiana Monte added another 18 seconds later to pull the hosts to within one and start a stretch of nearly six minutes where the teams were within three points and the lead changed five times. Shaunice Robinson's basket with 9:57 left put Tech back in front, and after a Henderson answer, Myers-Sanders followed with another go-ahead bucket. Mary Crow stretched the lead to three at the 8:48 mark, but four straight points from the Reddies gave them the lead for a final time. After a tie at 62-62, a baseline jumper from Frachiseur gave Tech the lead for good.

Starting with the Myers-Sanders field goal at 12:23, the Suns closed the game by making 12 of their final 17 shots from the field. A jumper from Adams with 4:38 left pushed the Tech lead to 74-67, but the Reddies twice clawed their way back to a one-possession game. The final time was at 76-73 with 1:26 left, and after Adams grabbed a huge offensive rebound to get a fresh shot clock, the Reddies attempted to foul off the ball. Instead, they were called for an intentional foul, after which Henderson coach Jill Thomas was given a technical foul. Tech sank all four free throws — two each by Myers-Sanders and Pounds — to pad the lead.

"We got out of the offense in the first half a couple times and just shot some bad shots," Wilbers said. "But second half, we went down low, and that's what we have to do. We have to get some post touches. It opens up the outside and they have to make adjustments off Fatima. They did that. They tried doubling her a couple times, and that opened up some shots for us."

After collecting 17 points in the first half, Adams became more of a facilitator in the second, drawing the defense in before kicking the ball back out. She dished out five assists, as did Katrina Hayden. Pounds posted four assists and Robinson three. The Suns also picked up 10 steals and scored 52 points in the paint compared to the Reddies' 32.

Tech begins a three-game road trip Thursday evening at Southern Arkansas, where tipoff is set for 5:30.