RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – For the sixth time in the past seven seasons, Arkansas Tech women's basketball enters the Great American Conference Championships as a two seed or better, as the Golden Suns finished second in the GAC regular-season standings in 2017-18. Tech will open the conference tournament against seventh-seeded East Central in Bartlesville, Okla. today at 2:15 p.m.  
 
FOLLOW THE ACTION
Live audio, video and statistics for today's game are available at www.arkansastechsports.com. The games will be carried live on 102.3-FM (KCJC) in Russellville.
 
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN SUNS
Arkansas Tech (23-3, 19-3 GAC) finished the regular season on seven game winning-streak. The Suns have defeated East Central twice this season by an average of 12.5 points. Tech defeated ECU 84-74 in Ada, Okla. in the first meeting before beating the Tigers 68-53 in Tucker Coliseum on Jan. 27.
 
The Golden Suns are led this season by All-GAC First Team selection, Cheyenne North. North paces the Suns with 8.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists and per game. She also ranks second in the conference and 18^th in Division II in blocks per game. 
 
All-GAC Second Team selection, Jayana Sanders leads Tech in scoring with 13.1 points per game, while All-GAC honorable mention, Kylie Ladd leads the GAC in and ranks 19^th in the country in steals per game. Lyrik Williams was also named an All-GAC honorable mention. Williams is second on the team in scoring with 12.9 points per game and second in rebounding with 8.2 rebounds per game.
 
SCOUTING THE LADY TIGERS
East Central (10-16, 9-13 GAC) won three of its last five regular season games to secure a seventh place finish in the GAC. The Tigers boast wins over one-seeded Southwestern Oklahoma and fourth-seeded Harding. ECU is just one of two teams to defeat the top seeded Bulldogs.
 
The Tigers are led by All-GAC honorable mentions Devon Branch and Lakin Preisner. Branch leads ECU in scoring with 14.6 points per game, while Preisner leads East Central in rebounding, steals and free throw percentage.