ALVA, Okla. – Fabiana Monte scored a career-high 24 points, shooting 12-of-12 from the free-throw line, while Caroline Eubanks added a 13-point performance and Danielle Frachiseur contributed 12 as the No. 17 Arkansas Tech Golden Suns (11-1, 6-0 Great American Conference) picked up a 66-57 win over Northwestern Oklahoma (3-8, 2-3 GAC) on Thursday.
 
The Golden Suns and Rangers battled through the the opening seven minutes, trading leads until a Monte layup put Tech ahead 12-11 with 13:16 to play in the opening half. Tech would not look back, extending its lead into the double digits after an Anissa Pounds 3-pointer with 3:49 to play gave Tech a 10-point lead.
 
The 3-pointer was part of a 14-3 run for the Golden Suns that saw Tech stretch its lead out to as many as 14 points (34-20) in the closing minute of the half.
 
The Rangers repeatedly cut the deficit into the single digits in the second half, but it seemed that each time NWOSU made a rally, Monte or Eubanks would stop the Rangers in their tracks with a clutch bucket or free-throw (the duo combined to shoot 23-of-24 from the charity stripe for the night, and 12-for-12 in the second half).
 
The Golden Suns made the most of their trips to the 3-point line, shooting 31-of-37. Tech was dominant on the rebounding glass, out-rebounding NWOSU 38-22, including a 17-6 advantage on the offensive glass.
 
The Golden Suns return to action on Saturday at Southern Nazarene. Tip-off from Bethany, Okla. is set for 1 p.m., with the game carried live on 100.9 FM (KWKK) in Russellville. Live audio, video, and statistics are available at www.arkansastechsports.com.