RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. — The Arkansas Tech men's and women's basketball teams return to Tucker Coliseum after nearly three weeks on the road, taking on Northwestern Oklahoma in a Great American Conference doubleheader starting at 5:30 Thursday evening.

In conjunction with Thursday's contests, the Arkansas Tech department of athletics will host its annual Literacy Night. Free books will be provided to elementary students attending the game, and admission for elementary students will be free with an adult.

The No. 24 Golden Suns (17-3, 12-2 GAC) remain right in the thick of the hunt for the conference title, recording back-to-back wins after a tough 1-2 stretch in late January. The Rangers (9-12, 8-7 GAC) enter winners in three of their last four, and are 6-3 since falling to the Suns 66-57 Jan. 8 in Alva, Oklahoma. Tech is 8-1 all-time against the Rangers, including 3-0 at Tucker Coliseum.

NWOSU features one of the top defenses in the GAC, allowing only 62.5 points and swiping 8.3 steals per game. The offense is a bit behind the defense, as the Rangers score just 54.0 points per game. Jonae Isaac leads the way with 9.8 points per game, while Kalea King adds 9.4. The balanced attack features nine players who average at least 11.9 minutes and six who put up at least 5.6 points per game. Isaac, as well as Ashley Pride and Kamera Bozeman, each netted 10 points in the early game against Tech.

Fatima Adams enters the game after a 24-point, 16-rebound effort for the Golden Suns last Thursday against Southwestern Oklahoma. It was the second straight double-double for the junior, her fourth in the past six games, and 10th of the season. Danielle Frachiseur posted 13 points against the Bulldogs on 5-of-10 shooting from the field, and is averaging 11.0 points over the last five games.

As a team, Tech continues to lead the GAC in scoring offense (76.6 ppg) and shooting (46.3 percent from the field). Adams' 21.2 points per game is eighth in the country, and tops in the conference, while Anissa Pounds is ninth in the league with 13.5 per game.

The Wonder Boys (10-12, 6-8 GAC) topped the Rangers (6-16, 5-10 GAC) 76-58 during the first meeting in Alva in January, bouncing out to a 14-point lead at halftime and picking up 20 points and eight rebounds from D.J. Jethroe. Tech, facing a climb to the middle of the conference standings, has not lost to NWOSU in league play in five chances, including wins by 12 and 20 at home.

The Rangers average 65.4 points per game, and allow 75.5 to their opponents. Three players average double figures, with T'aries Taylor putting up 12.4, Adrian Motley adding 11.7 and 7.1 rebounds per game, and Darrian Dempsey chipping in with 11.2 points per game. Dempsey netted 10 in the home game against Tech, while Taylor and Motley didn't play.

The Wonder Boys picked up 23 points from Mike Balogun in last Thursday's win over Southwestern, with Tyler Friedel adding 15 points and a team-high nine rebounds and Clarence Willard putting up 13 points, eight boards and five assists. It was the third time in the past five games Friedel has led the way in rebounding, and the sixth time in seven games Willard dished out at least four assists.

The doubleheader will be carried live on 100.9 (KWKK) in Russellville, with live video, audio and statistics available at www.arkansastechsports.com.