RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Arkansas Tech Golden Suns will begin Great American Conference play on Thursday, hosting Southwestern Oklahoma at 5:30 p.m. Tech will then host Northwestern Oklahoma on Saturday, beginning at 1 p.m.
 

SCOUTING THE GOLDEN SUNS
Tech (1-0, 0-0 GAC) is coming off an 81-51 win over Lane College on Saturday, the Golden Suns' first win of the 2016-17 regular season. In the victory, Cheyenne North led the team with 13 points on just eight shot attempts. She also added eight rebounds and four assists. Ryann Goodsell and Brianna Williams each finished with 12 points, while D'Rae Tullock grabbed a game-high nine boards.
 
The Golden Suns outscored Lane 50-14 in the paint and secured 22 offensive rebounds that resulted in 27 second-chance points. Tech also dominated in transition, outscoring Lane 20-6 in fast break points.  
 
Tech was picked to finish second in the GAC Preseason Poll, despite opening the season as the only conference team ranked in the Division II WBCA Coaches Top 25 Poll.
 

SCOUTING LADY BULLDOGS
Southwestern (1-1, 0-0 GAC) is coming off participation in the GAC/MIAA Crossover tournament last weekend, where the Lady Bulldogs finished 1-1. SWOSU dropped the regular-season opener, 87-65, to No. 4 Emporia State but defeated Missouri Southern, 90-73, on Sunday.
 
After two games, Hailey Tucker averages 23 points per contest to lead the Lady Bulldogs. Tucker also leads the team with 11 rebounds per game, as she recorded a double-double in each of the previous two games. Taylor Hedrick follows with 12 points per game.
 
The Lady Bulldogs were picked to finish third in the GAC Preseason Poll.
 

SCOUTING THE RANGERS
Northwestern (0-2, 0-0 GAC) also participated in the GAC/MIAA Crossover last weekend, dropping both games to Central Oklahoma and Northeastern State. The Rangers were outscored a combined 183-109 in the two contests.
 
Kalea King paces the Rangers with 10 points per game, followed by Kori Barrios with nine. Northwestern is shooting just 25.2 percent from the field in two games this season.
 

HISTORY LESSON
Tech leads the all-time series between Southwestern, 14-7, including three wins last season. The Golden Suns defeated the Lady Bulldogs twice in the regular season, before claiming the conference tournament championship with a 106-85 win over SWOSU on March 6.
 
The Golden Suns are 9-1 all-time against Northwestern, including five consecutive victories. Tech won both contests last season by an average of 41.5 points.
 

COVERAGE
The game will be carried live on 102.3 FM (KCJC) in Russellville, with live video, audio and statistics available at www.arkansastechsports.com.