RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Arkansas Tech Golden Suns return to Tucker Coliseum this week, looking to win its second Great American Conference game of the season as they host Southern Arkansas on Wednesday, Dec. 12. A 5:30 p.m. tipoff is scheduled.
 
FOLLOW THE ACTION
Live audio, video, and statistics 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 Southern Arkansas, 68-9, including a current seven-game winning-streak against the Lady Muleriders. The Suns are 35-3 at home, 31-6 on the road and 2-0 on neutral sites against UAM.
 

Stats	TECH	SAU
Record	3-4 (1-2 GAC)	1-6 (0-3 GAC)
Pts/GM	77.0	53.9
FG%	43.4	31.8
3FG%	35.7	21.8
FT%	63.6	70.1
Reb/GM	42.9	33.3
Ast/GM	15.3	9.4
Blk/GM	3.1	1.7
Stl/GM	12.4	8.6
Pts Allowed/GM	62.4	64.0
FG% Defense	37.8	44.0
3FG% Defense	30.2	32.1
Rebound Margin	+5.6	-3.3
Ast-TO Ratio	0.9	0.6

 
 
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN SUNS
Arkansas Tech (3-4, 1-2 GAC) has won three of its last five games but will look to find the win column once again after suffering back-to-back conference losses to Henderson State and Arkansas-Monticello.
 
The Suns have been led by Jacie Higgins this season. Higgins is averaging a team-high 12.3 points per game and is coming off a 13 point, five rebound, five assist performance against UAM. Higgins is also shooting 42.9 percent from behind the 3-point line, which ranks as the third best in the league.
 
Hannah Villines is also averaging double-figures at 10.7 points per game. Along with her 4.6 rebounds per game and her 2.3 steals per game, Villines is shooting 54.4 percent from the floor, ranking eighth in the GAC.
 
The Suns have done a great job taking care of the ball, while forcing turnovers as their +6.43 turnover margin is the second best in the conference. Tech has been active on defense, forcing 23.0 turnovers a game, 12.7 of those coming off of steals. The Golden Suns are the only team in the GAC to have three players averaging over 2.0 steals per game, led by Alicia Mardis and Villines with 2.3 steals per game. Jayana Sanders is averaging 2.1 steals per game.
 
SCOUTING THE LADY MULERIDERS
Southern Arkansas (1-6, 0-3 GAC) is in the middle of a four-game losing streak. The Lady Muleriders are coming off a 67-55 loss to Ouachita on Dec. 8. Their lone win of the season came on Nov. 13 with a 77-37 win over Southeastern Baptist College.
 
Arianna Guinn paces the SAU offense as she is the only Southern Arkansas player to average double-digits in scoring with 12.0 points per game. Alyssa Crase leads the team in rebounding, as her 6.9 rebounds per game are ranked ninth in the GAC, while her 3.3 offensive rebounds per game are ranked third.
 
Southern Arkansas ranks last in the GAC in field goal percentage (31.8%), field goal percentage defense (44.0%), 3-point field goal percentage (21.8%), rebounding offense (33.3/game), assists (9.4/game) and assists/turnover ratio (0.6). However, SAU does do a good job contesting shots as they hold opponents to 64.0 points per game, which is the fifth best in the conference.