RUSSELLVILLE, Ark.–  Hannah Villines and Kiara Moses both scored 12 points apiece, but it was not enough as the Arkansas Tech Golden Suns basketball team (5-8, 2-5 Great American Conference) could not fend off a hot shooting Southern Nazarene team (5-8, 4-3 GAC), falling 68-54 on Thursday evening at Tucker Coliseum.
 
NEXT UP

• Arkansas Tech returns to action on Saturday, Jan. 12, hosting Oklahoma Baptist at Tucker Coliseum. A 1:00 p.m. tip-off is scheduled.     

HOW IT HAPPENED

• SNU got off to a red-hot start, opening the game on an 8-0 run and later pushed its advantage to 17-4 over the first 5:51 of the contest.
• The Crimson Storm took a 23-8 lead into the second quarter and extended its lead to as many as 23 points (33-10) in the second quarter.
• The Golden Suns battled back, scoring six unanswered points, highlighted by two Kiara Moses layups to trim the deficit to 16 points (36-20) with 1:15 remaining in the first half.
• SNU scored the final three points of the half and took a 39-20 lead into the locker room.
• The Crimson Storm outshot Tech 44.0 percent to 30.0 percent in the opening half. SNU also shot 64.0 percent (7-for-11) from behind the 3-point line in the first half.
• Southern Nazarene opened the third quarter on a 10-7 run to extend its lead to 49-27 at the 4:44 minute mark.
• Tech responded with an 8-0 run of its own to pull within 14 points (49-35).
• SNU used a 6-0 run to claim a 55-35 advantage with 1:12 remaining in the quarter.
• Villines scored four of the last six points of the quarter to put the score at 57-39 heading into the final period.
• Tech outscored SNU 15-11 in the fourth period, but were unable to get the deficit below 14, as the Crimson Storm held on for a 68-54 win.

NOTABLES

• SNU outshot Tech 39.0 to 36.0 percent. SNU also went 8-for-19 from behind the arc.
• The Crimson Storm won the battle inside as they held a 48-30 rebounding advantage. 
• Tech forced 16 turnovers, while only committing 11. 
• Tech held a 32-26 advantage in points in the paint and a 12-5 advantage in points off turnovers, but SNU held a 12-4 advantage in fast-break points and a 14-11 advantage in second -chance points.
• Moses and VIllines were the only two Golden Suns to reach double figures in scoring. Moses' 12 points is a season-high. Ke'Vonshaye Stackhouse led the team in rebounds with six.