RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The nationally 19th-ranked Arkansas Tech University women's basketball returned to its winning ways as the Golden Suns won for the fifth time in their initial six games by utilizing a big first quarter and a balanced scoring attack to claim an 80-45 home triumph over Northwestern Oklahoma State this Saturday (Dec. 2) in a Great American Conference (GAC) outing at Tucker Coliseum.  Tech (5-1, 3-1 GAC) had four players get into the double-digit points column with freshman guard Jayana Sanders' 22 leading all players.  Freshman guard Ke'Vonshaye Stackhouse posted 12 points while junior guard Taylor Ely and junior forward Lyrik Williams contributed 11 and 10 points, respectively for the Golden Suns off the bench.  Tech sophomore forward Ryan Goodsell grabbed a game-most 11 rebounds and freshman guard Jacie Higgins totaled nine boards on the defensive side.  Selena McDonald was the lone NWOSU (4-4, 2-2 GAC) player to attain double figures in scoring with 10 points.              

HOW IT HAPPENED

    •    The Golden Suns jumped out to a 7-0 lead to start the contest and increased their margin to 14 points at 16-2 on a Jayana Sanders' three-pointer with five minutes to go in the first quarter.

     •    Tech led 23-6 at the end of the opening quarter following a pair of free throws from Jacie Higgins after NWOSU had cut its deficit to 12 points (18-6) with 50 seconds to go in the stanza.

    •    The Golden Suns upped their advantage to 20 points (28-8) at the second quarter's 7:31 mark and maintained a lead of no less than 15 points through the next three minutes.  NWOSU narrowed Tech's lead down to 12 points (31-19) with 3:40 left in the half before the Golden Suns outscored the visitors 8-5 in the time remaining en route to a 39-24 halftime lead.

    •    Tech, which outscored NWOSU 18-8 in the third quarter, maintained a margin of 15 points or more throughout the quarter as the Golden Suns' lead surged to 25 points (57-32) via a Kylie Ladd layup with 2:34 remaining as the hosts held a 57-32 advantage after three quarters of play.

    •    The Golden Suns continued their offensive prowess in the fourth quarter, increasing their lead to 64-35 with 6:37 on the clock courtesy of a three ball from Ke'Vonshaye Stackhouse. 

    •    The final four minutes saw Tech's lead reach into the 30's with the Golden Suns' largest of the game occurring with 30 seconds to be played as Taylor Ely drained a shot from three-point territory to make it 80-42.  NWOSU hit on a three-point attempt as the final horn sounded to account for the 80-45 final score. 

NOTABLES

    •    Jayana Sanders' 22 points is a personal season high, eclipsing her 17 points versus Southwestern Oklahoma on Thursday (Nov. 30).  Sanders, who amassed 19 points in the first half against NWOSU, extended her season-opening double-figure points string to six straight.

    •    Ryan Goodsell established a new career high with her game-most 11 rebounds against Northwestern Oklahoma.  Goodsell's previous career best was eight rebounds versus Lane in the Golden Suns' 2017-18 season opener (Nov. 12).

    •    Tech connected on 46.0 percent (29-63) from the floor, which included a 10-for-27 performance (37.0 percent) from beyond the three-point arc.  On the defensive end, the Golden Suns' held the Lady Rangers to a 26.9 field goal percentage (18-67) as the visitors made good on only five-of-32 three pointers (15.6 percent).

     •    The Golden Suns went to the free throw stripe 21 times, connecting on 12 of their attempts (57.1 percent).  NWOSU was four-of-six (66.7 percent) in free throw opportunities.  

     •    Tech out-hustled the Lady Rangers in second-chance points (31-12) and the Golden Suns' bench produced a 29-16 points advantage.  Tech controlled the inside offensively, outpointing NWOSU 34-18.   

    •    Taylor Ely netted double-digit points for the third time this campaign with her 11 versus NWOSU.  Ely garnered 11 in the season opener versus Lane (Nov. 12) and chalked up 12 against Mississippi College (Nov. 21).

    •    Jacie Higgins' nine rebounds is a personal season best, bettering her eight caroms at East Central (Nov. 16).

    •    Tech defeated NWOSU for the eight consecutive time with its victory today (Dec. 2).  The win also improved the Golden Suns' home record to 7-0 against the Lady Rangers in their all-time series. 

NEXT UP

    •    The Golden Suns visit the Lane College Lady Dragons on Dec. 14 in Jackson, Tenn.  The non-conference contest, which represents the second meeting between the two teams this season, is scheduled for a 5:30 p.m. start at LC's JF Lane Gymnasium.  Tech posted an 86-48 home triumph over Lane College on Nov. 12 to begin the 2017-18 campaign.

-FIGHTON-