RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Arkansas Tech Golden Suns look to get closer to clinching a spot in the Great American Conference Tournament with two more conference contests this weekend. Tech hosts Southern Arkansas on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. before traveling to Arkadelphia to take on Ouachita on Saturday at 1 p.m.
 
FOLLOW THE ACTION
Live audio, video and statistics for both games are available at www.arkansastechsports.com. The games will be carried live on 102.3-FM (KCJC) in Russellville, with Sam Strasner calling the play-by-play.
 
ALL-TIME SERIES
Tech leads the all-time series against SAU, 65-9, including a 66-49 win earlier this season. Against the Lady Tigers of Ouachita, the Golden Suns are 55-14 all-time, including six consecutive victories.
 
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN SUNS
Arkansas Tech (16-3, 12-3 GAC) remains two games behind Harding in the GAC standings after two wins last week. The Golden Suns defeated Southern Nazarene last Thursday, before routing Oklahoma Baptist on Saturday to claim their sixth 20-point victory of the season.
 
Tech leads the GAC in scoring margin, defeating its opponents by an average of 13.7 points. The Golden Suns have produced on both sides of the floor this season, as Tech ranks 20th in Division II in field-goal percentage while ranking 28th in field-goal percentage defense. The Golden Suns the 17th-best rebounding team in the country, out-rebounding opponents by 7.8 boards per game.
 
Cheyenne North, Tech's leading scorer, has missed the past three games due to injury. During those games, Danielle Frachiseur has averaged 14.3 points and 7.3 rebounds. Anissa Pounds and Kelsey McClure have also stepped up, both averaging 16 points over the last three contests.
 
SCOUTING THE LADY MULERIDERS
Southern Arkansas (5-14, 3-12 GAC) has lost four in a row after defeating Ouachita, 62-55, on Jan. 21. The Lady Muleriders are currently ranked in a tie for 11th in the GAC standings. The Lady Muleriders are 11th in the conference in scoring but rank sixth in scoring defense. SAU has been effective on the boards this season, out-rebounding its opponents by 1.6 boards per game, fifth-best in the conference. The Lady Muleriders also rank second in the conference in steals.
 
Kimberly Crown leads the Lady Muleriders in nearly every statistical category, including points, rebounds, field-goal percentage, free-throws and blocks. Despite the loss to NWOSU on Saturday, Aaliyah Holmes and Jaida Harden each scored 18 points.
 
In this season's first contest between SAU and Tech, the Golden Suns outscored the Lady Muleriders, 34-20, in the paint. Pounds led Tech with 18 points, and Anna Djedjemel led SAU with 12 points. 
 
SCOUTING THE LADY TIGERS
Ouachita (9-12, 6-9 GAC) split two games last week, defeating East Central in overtime before falling to Southeastern Oklahoma on Saturday. The Lady Tigers currently sit in a tie for seventh in the GAC standings. Ouachita travels to Searcy on Thursday to take on Harding before hosting Tech on Saturday.
 
The Lady Tigers are sixth in the GAC in scoring and eighth in scoring defense. Ouachita has been efficient from three-point range, ranking third, just behind Arkansas Tech, in three-point percentage. Ouachita's three-point defense, however, ranks 11^th in the conference.
 
Arkansas Tech defeated Ouachita, 89-66, on Jan. 12 of this season after the Golden Suns set a school record with 16 three-pointers. Pounds led the Golden Suns with 24 points, while Alivia Huell and Madison Brittain led the Lady Tigers with a combined 25 points.