RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. - The Arkansas Tech Golden Suns continue play in the Great American Conference this weekend, as Tech travels to Arkansas-Monticello on Thursday before hosting Ouachita on Saturday. The Suns take on the Cotton Blossoms in Monticello at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 18. Tech battles the Lady Tigers in Russellville at 1 p.m. on Saturday. 

COVERAGE

Live video, statistics and audio for both games are available at www.arkansastechsports.com. The games can also be heard live on 102.3-FM (KCJC) in Russellville with Sam Strasner calling the play-by-play. 

ALL-TIME SERIES

In 86 all-time meetings between Arkansas Tech and Arkansas-Monticello, Tech leads the series 62-24. The Golden Suns have won 19 consecutive and 24 out of the last 25 games over UAM.

Arkansas Tech leads the all-time series against Ouachita, 57-14. The Suns have won eight straight games against the Lady Tigers, including two wins last season, by an average of 19 points. 

SCOUTING THE GOLDEN SUNS

Arkansas Tech (11-2, 7-2 GAC) currently sits second in the GAC standings, two games behind No. 13 Southwestern Oklahoma. After falling to Henderson State in Arkadelphia, the Golden Suns have bounced back with wins over Southern Arkansas and Harding.

Tech boasts the 13^th-best scoring offense in Division II, averaging 80.9 points per game. The Suns have beaten their opponents by an average of 15.3 points per game this season, 29^th-best scoring margin in the country. Arkansas Tech has been dominant inside, averaging 46.3 rebounds per game, which ranks seventh in Division II and also averaging 17.0 offensive rebounds per game which ranks ninth in the country. The Suns also lead the GAC and rank 16^th in Division II with 12.1 steals per game. 

Jayana Sanders leads the Suns with 15.4 points per game, and she is coming off her fourth 20-point performance of the season. Lyrik Williams, is ranked first in the GAC in offensive rebounds per game (3.9) and second in rebounds (9.1). Cheyenne North ranks 20^th in Division II and second in the conference with 2.54 blocks per game, Kylie Ladd is fourth in the country and leads the GAC with 3.3 steals per contest. 

SCOUTING THE COTTON BLOSSOMS

Arkansas-Monticello (5-8, 1-7 GAC) has lost its previous four games and six of its last seven. The Cotton Blossoms lone conference victory came against Oklahoma Baptist (74-66). UAM is currently ranked last in the GAC standings.

The Cotton Blossoms are ranked first in the conference in scoring defense (63.4), second in steals per game (9.8), third in turnover margin (+2.85) and fourth in 3-point field goal percentage defense (.316). Brittnee Broadway and Charlynn Perry pace the UAM offense. Broadway is ranked ninth in the GAC in assists per game (3.0) and 17^th in scoring (12.2), while Perry ranks eighth in the conference in made 3-point field goals per game (2.3), ninth in 3-point field goal percentage (.390) and 19^th in scoring (11.6).

SCOUTING THE LADY TIGERS

Ouachita (8-6, 4-4 GAC) had won back-to-back conference matchups over East Central and Arkansas-Monticello, before falling to Harding on Saturday. The Lady Tigers are scheduled to face Southern Arkansas on Thursday before traveling to Russellville on Saturday. 

OUA averages 68.3 points per game while allowing 66.5 points per game. Ouachita ranks third in the conference in scoring defense (65.6) and field goal percentage defense (.378), while ranking fifth in blocked shots per game (3.5) and sixth in defensive rebounds (27.5). Taylor Bowles leads Ouachita in scoring with 11.7 points per game, while Morgan Miller ranks second in the GAC in field goal percentage (.551) and fourth 3-point field goal percentage (.475).

-FIGHTON-