RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. — Nine different players scored at least six points, led by Fatima Adams' 27-point, eight-rebound showing, as the Arkansas Tech women's basketball team started off its 2015-16 campaign with an 82-62 victory over Lane in nonconference action Saturday afternoon at Tucker Coliseum.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Cold shooting was the name of the game for both teams to start the game, as  Bre Brooks free throw held up as the only point of the game for the first three minutes of action. Tierani Richardson sank three straight freebies to give the Golden Suns (1-0) the lead at 10-7 late in the first quarter.
• Lane (0-1) score the final four points of the opening quarter to take a 11-10 lead, and held onto that lead for much of the second stanza as well. A jumper from Adams momentarily gave Tech an 18-17 lead with seven minutes left in the half.
• Another jumper from Adams broke a 24-24 tie with 3:28 to play in the second quarter and gave the Suns the lead for good. Richardson nailed a pair of 3-pointers around a Danielle Frachiseur layup to make it 34-31 at the break.
• Tech netted the first 10 points of the second half to stretch the lead to 13, with Adams scoring seven during the run.
• Another Frachiseur bucket pushed the lead back to double digits at 46-35 with 5:06 to play in the third, and the hosts would lead by no fewer than 11 the rest of the way.
• The lead would balloon as high as 23 in the fourth quarter, once on a Calli White triple and again after an Aujana Dawkins finish with 3:52 to play. The Suns would hit 61.9 percent of their free throws in the second half to help hold the Dragons at bay.

NOTABLES

• Richardson hit a trio of 3-pointers and three foul shots to hit double digit scoring with 12 points in her Tech debut and added three steals in just 18 minutes.
• White also hit three 3-pointers to finish with nine points, adding a game-high five assists. Brooks and Anissa Pounds each netted eight points, and combined for six assists and seven steals.
• Dawkins scored seven points and added five rebounds to go with an assist, a steal and a block, while Frachiseur was 2-for-2 from the field and at the line, going for six poing and five rebounds.
• For the 13th time in her career, Adams led the Suns in both points and rebounds. She was 11-of-15 shooting, grabbed a pair of offensive boards, and added two steals in just 26 minutes of work.

COACH WILBERS SAYS

• On starting with a win – "I thought it was a good opening win. It took us a little bit to get going just because it was our first game and we missed some early shots. But I think the second half we did a good job of pushing tempo and we're playing a lot faster. Fatima I think really gave us a big lift, hit some shots. Our press did a good job of getting the game moving."
• On the team's depth – "I think we have a lot of depth this year, and I'm going to play a lot of people if they deserve it. Right now I think a lot of them deserve to play and they're doing a good job. A lot of people are playing a good role on the team."

WHO'S NEXT

• The Golden Suns jump right into Great American Conference play with a roadtrip to face Southwestern Oklahoma Thursday.

-FIGHTON-