RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. — Fatima Adams and Caroline Eubanks each turned in 17-point, seven-rebound performances as the Arkansas Tech women's basketball team fended off a scrappy Northwestern Oklahoma squad 61-51 Thursday evening at Tucker Coliseum.

The Golden Suns (18-3, 13-2 Great American Conference) never trailed, taking an Adams free throw just 36 seconds in and holding the lead the rest of the way. They shot the lead the whole way out to double digits by the 15:25 mark, with Adams netting half of Tech's points on the way to a 12-2 lead. A layup by Eubanks — who with Adams scored 22 of the Suns' 32 points in the opening half — pushed the lead to 12 just over a minute later, but the Rangers (9-13, 8-8 GAC) twice pulled back within six.

Tech went on a seven-point run capped by an Anissa Pounds 3-pointer and a pair of free throws from Katrina Hayden to push the lead back out to 25-12, and went back up by 13 at the 4:32 mark, but the Suns' lead would fluctuate between six and 11 the rest of the half. NWOSU netted the final four points of the period to pull within 32-25 at the break.

That run stretched to 9-2 for the Rangers to start the second half, which closed the gap to 34-31 with 18:03 to play, the smallest lead for the Golden Suns since going up 3-0 in the first minute of the game. An Adams jumper kickstarted a 10-0 streak for the hosts shortly after, and a three-point play from Danielle Frachiseur — who posted five points and a game-high eight boards on the night — capped it off at the 15:08 mark.

It was the largest lead Tech would enjoy in the second half, but NWOSU would not get it back to within one possession. A pair of freebies from Hayden, who added five points, seven assists against only two turnovers and three steals, extended the lead to seven with 3:21 to play, and two more from Pounds made it 58-49 over a minute later. A big offensive rebound followed later in the possession by a layup from Eubanks — whose 17 points and 28 minutes were season highs as she earned her second straight start — pushed the lead to 61-49 with 33 ticks left on the clock to seal it.

"I thought we played a really good game," coach Dave Wilbers said. "They're a very difficult team to play, and they've improved so much, really no one can beat this team badly with their defenses and changing pressure. I thought our girls did a good job of establishing down low, and I liked the way we rebounded the ball against them.

"Really, the key to the game was the first four minutes. We got up by 10 quickly, and then it was really an even game from there."

Pounds finished with seven points and six rebounds for the Suns, who used a 40-27 rebounding advantage to help overcome 27 turnovers and a 1-of-12 night from behind the arc. Tech shot 45.8 percent from the field and hit 16-of-21 free throws, while holding the Rangers to just 37.0 percent on field goals.

The Golden Suns are back in action Saturday with a 1 p.m. tipoff against GAC foe Southern Nazarene.