BETHANY, Okla. – Fatima Adams reached the 1,000-point plateau as a part of her 20-point performance, while
Aujana Dawkins turned in a 11-point, 10-rebound double-double as the No. 16 Arkansas Tech Golden Suns basketball team (17-2, 15-0 Great American Conference) overcame a slow start to pick up an 81-55 win over Southern Nazarene (4-14, 3-12 GAC) on Saturday afternoon at the Sawyer Center.
HOW IT HAPPENED- SNU got off to a hot start – leading Tech 9-6 midway through the first half. SNU held an 8-3 advantage in rebounds at the 4:14 point.
- The Crimson Storm would lead by as many as six (14-8) with 1:05 to play in the opening quarter before the Golden Suns pulled to within three (14-11) at the end of the quarter.
- Tech pulled ahead for the first time (17-16) since leading 2-0 on an Anissa Pounds layup with 8:09 to go until halftime.
- The Golden Suns stretched the lead to three (19-16) at the second quarter media timeout (5:54 mark).
- Tech used a 10-0 run over the middle of the second quarter to push its lead to eight (24-16) with 4:31 to go until halftime.
- The Tech lead was pushed into double figures (30-20) on a Bre Brooks layup with 2:08 to play.
- Kelsey McClure hit a layup at the buzzer to give Tech a 12-point (36-24) halftime lead.
- The Golden Suns pushed ahead by as many as 19 (60-41) in the final minute of the third quarter before taking a 60-43 lead into the fourth.
- Tech stretched its lead out to as many as 29 (81-52) in the final minute before coming away with the 27-point win.
NOTABLES- With her layup at the 5:32 mark of the opening quarter, Fatima Adams scored her 1,000th career point.
- The Golden Suns connected on six of their last seven field goal attempts in the first half, while SNU was 2 of its final 10.
- Tech outshot SNU 45.2 to 30.8 percent in the opening half, while forcing 12 SNU turnovers.
- Both Brooks and McClure were in double figures (10 points) at the half.
- Five players reached double figures for the Golden Suns, as Pounds (14 points) Brooks (12 points), and McClure (12 points) also reached double figures.
- Tech held a 41-34 rebounding advantage, and forced 22 SNU turnovers.
- Tech held a 22-4 advantage in points off turnovers, an 8-5 advantage in second-chance points, and a 20-14 advantage in bench points.
COACH WILBERS SAYS- On the 25-10 second quarter advantage – "We just got off to a slow start, missing shots early that we usually hit. Credit SNU – they had a good game plan early on, but I think we did a good job in the second quarter, getting into transition and getting easy shots, and then Fatima took over in the third quarter and that's what we expect out of an all-American."
- On Fatima Adams' bounce back after a slow start – "It takes a lot of talent. Our girls were getting her the ball in a lot of good spots, too. She's tough to guard one-on-one on the block, and we isolated her down there."
- On Aujana Dawkins' performance – "We challenged her to get more rebounds. She did a great job. She's so explosive and she's gotten a lot stronger. We need a lot of that out of her."
- On Fatima Adams reaching the 1,000-point milestone – "It's a great club to be in and I suspect that she's going to score a few more points."
NEXT UP- The Golden Suns return to Tucker Coliseum on Thursday, Feb. 11 to face off against Ouachita Baptist. A 5:30 p.m. tip is scheduled.
-FIGHTON-
