Arkansas Tech vs. Lane College Game Notes
RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Arkansas Tech University women's basketball team will tip off its 2017-18 season this Sunday (Nov. 12) afternoon as the Golden Suns host Lane College in a 1 p.m. non-conference game at Tech's Tucker Coliseum.
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN SUNS
Arkansas Tech (0-0, 0-0 GAC), which compiled a 22-8 overall record for the 2016-17 campaign while making its third consecutive NCAA Division II Postseason Tournament appearance, returns six letter winners from a season ago.
Headlining the returnees is senior forward Cheyenne North, who received All-Great American Conference (GAC) Honorable Mention honors this past season after averaging 11.0 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 2.2 blocked shots per game in 27 contests. Tech also welcomes back sophomore forward Ryann Goodsell (4.1 ppg., 2.5 rpg.) along with junior guards Kylie Ladd (3.4 ppg., 2.7 rpg.), Taylor Ely (2.7 ppg., 1.6 rpg.). Sophomore guard Leighton Taylor along with senior guard McKenzie Morris return and will be joined by six newcomers.
The Golden Suns, under 11th-year head coach Dave Wilbers, were chosen third in the 2017-18 Great American Conference Preseason Poll with 103 points and received one of the possible 11 first-place votes in the preseason balloting by the league's coaches.
SCOUTING THE LADY DRAGONS
Lane (0-0, 0-0 SIAC), which starts its 2017-18 season on the road versus Arkansas Tech for the third year in a row, produced a 12-15 overall mark and tallied a 10-7 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) mark last season.
The Lady Dragons, who are directed by third-year head coach Kimberly Anderson, have a large void to fill with the departure of their top six scoring leaders from a season ago. Senior center Ashley Gayle is LC's top returning scorer (3.9 ppg.) and rebounder (5.2 rpg.). Sophomore guard Destiny Irvin (3.3 ppg., 0.4 rpg.) and junior forward Tia Barlow (3.1 ppg., 2.0 rpg.) are other notable returners for the Lady Dragons.
ALL-TIME SERIES
Arkansas Tech presently holds a 5-0 lead over Lane in a series which started in the 2002-03 season with the Golden Suns recording an 82-32 home victory (12/3/02). Tech posted an 81-51 home decision over the Lady Dragons in the 2016-17 season opener (11/12/16) to extend its series home winning streak to five straight. Tech is averaging 84.4 points per game while limiting Lane to a 53.4 points a contest average in the series.
FOR OPENERS
The Golden Suns are 32-8 in season openers dating back to the 1977-78 season and 21-3 at home. Coach Wilbers is 9-1 in season openers at ATU and is midst a current nine-game winning streak in season-opening encounters. In season home openers, Tech sports a 38-2 ledger and are 10-0 under Coach Wilbers.
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.
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