ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Lyrik Williams had a team-high 20 points, grabbing seven rebounds, Hannah Villines scored 11 points and tallied eight rebounds as the Golden Suns basketball team (3-2, 1-0 Great American Conference) picked up a 71-61 win over Ouachita Baptist (2-4, 0-1 GAC) on Thursday night at Bill Vining Arena.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Ouachita jumped out to an early 9-2 lead in the opening minutes of the first quarter.
• Arkansas Tech responded with a 12-3 run, capped by a Jacie Higgins 3-pointer to give Tech it first lead of the game (14-12) at the 2:45 minute mark.
• OUA outscored Tech 6-4 down the stretch to knot the score at 18-18 after one quarter of play.
• Both teams traded baskets over the opening minutes of the second quarter, with the score tied at 24-24, Lyrik Williams gave Tech a 26-24 lead after hitting a layup with 6:21 remaining in the second half.
• The Lady Tigers rallied to retake the lead at 31-28, however Tech was quick to answer as a Ke'Vonshaye Stackhouse 3-pointer tied the game at 31-31.
• Tech closed out the first half with a 6-3 run to take a 37-34 lead into the half.
• Ouachita scored the first four points of the third quarter to regain the lead at 38-37.
• The Suns scored 15 of the next 18 points, highlighted by eight straight points from Jayana Sanders to give Tech an 11-point advantage (52-41) with 4:18 to play in the third.
• The Lady Tigers ended the Tech run with a 7-2 run of their own to trim the Golden Sun lead to 54-48 at the end of the third quarter.
• Tech opened the fourth quarter with four quick points to extend the lead to double-digits (58-48).
• Ouachita hung around, cutting the deficit to six points with the score at 62-56 with 5:20 remaining in regulation.
• With the score at 64-58, Higgins pushed the Tech lead back to nine points (67-58) after hitting her second 3-pointer of the game.
• The Lady Tigers scored five unanswered points, putting the score at 67-61 with 1:42 left to play.
• Tech scored the final four points of the game to give the Golden Suns a 71-61 victory.

NOTABLES

• Tech outshot OUA 40.8 to 36.5 percent from the floor.
• Sanders and Higgins also scored in double-figures, with 13 and ten points, respectively.
• Stackhouse grabbed a season-high nine rebounds.
• Tech held a 50-38 advantage on the rebounding glass, including a 16-10 advantage on the offensive glass.
• Tech outscored OUA 40-34 in points in the paint
• OUA held advantages over Tech in fast break points, 23-14 and points off turnovers 23-22.
• Both teams committed 22 turnovers.

NEXT UP

• The Golden Suns are back in action on Saturday, Dec. 1, as Tech hosts Henderson State in a 1 p.m. matchup at Tucker Coliseum.