RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – Jayana Sanders turned in a monster night, scoring 19 points with six assists and four rebounds, while Jacie Higgins chipped in 15 points and seven assists and Hannah Villines added 12 points as the Arkansas Tech Golden Suns basketball team (13-14, 10-11 Great American Conference) rallied from a 12-point deficit to defeat Northwestern Oklahoma (12-16, 9-12 GAC) 70-67 on Thursday night at Tucker Coliseum. With the win, Tech clinched the No. 7 seed in the GAC tournament.
 
NEXT UP

• The Golden Suns conclude the 2018-19 regular season on Saturday, Mar. 2, hosting No. 10 Southwestern Oklahoma in a 1 p.m. matchup at Tucker Coliseum.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Northwestern Oklahoma took control of the game early, opening with a 7-0 run.
• Ryan Goodsell put Tech on the board at the 6:53 minute mark, and went on to score the Suns first five points (7-5).
• Tech took its first lead of the game after Jayana Sanders drained a 3-pointer (10-8).
• The Lady Rangers rallied back to tie the game at 12-12, only to see Tech close out the first quarter on an 8-3 run, capped by two Sanders 3-pointers (20-15).
•  The Golden Suns extended their advantage to six points after Jacie Higgins hit a corner 3-pointer.
• Tech led 26-21 at the 5:12 minute mark.
• Northwestern held the Suns scoreless for the remainder of the half. The Lady Rangers ended the half on a 14-0 run, using eight made free throws to take a nine point advantage into the break.
• The Golden Suns committed ten turnovers and shot 18.2 percent (2-for-11) in the second quarter.
• The Lady Rangers hit a 3-pointer on their first possession of the second half to stretch their advantage to 12 points (28-26).
• Tech responded by holding NWOSU to two points over the next 5:45, allowing the Suns to stitch together a 13-0 run, highlighted by Hannah Villines 3-pointer that gave Tech the lead (42-40). 
• Northwestern used a pair of 3-pointers to go on an 8-2 run, retaking the lead at 48-44.
• Jacie Higgins buried a 3-pointer right before the third quarter ended, cutting gthe deficit to one (48-47).
• The fourth quarter featured seven lead changes and four ties as both teams battled to create separation.
• With just under four minutes to play in regulation the score was tied at 59-59
• NWOSU regained the lead on a fast break layup, but five quick points from Villines gave Tech a 64-61 advantage with 2:52 remaining.
• The Lady Rangers scored three unanswered points, tying the game at 64-64 with 1:35 left to play.
• Ryan Goodsell helped the Golden Suns edge ahead 66-64 on a layup assisted by Sanders, however NWOSU hit a 3-pointer on the ensuing possession to take a 67-66 lead with 42 seconds left in the game.
• Once again, Goodsell had the answer as she hit the go-ahead layup (68-67) with seconds to play.
• Northwestern attempted to take the lead with a last second shot, but Higgins stole the ball and hit two free throws to seal a 70-67 win for the Golden Suns.

NOTABLES

• With the win, the Golden Suns clinched the No. 7 seed in the Great American Conference Tournament.
• After shooting 36 percent in the first half and trailing by as many as 12 points, Tech shot 56.7 percent in the second half and hit 6-of-11 3-pointers allowing the Suns to rally for the win.
• The Golden Suns shot 47.0 percent for the game and 50.0 percent (11-for-22) from behind the arc.
• Tech held a 39-28 rebounding edge and a 21-8 advantage in assists.
• Sanders led all scorers with 19 points. She also added six assists and four rebounds.
• Four other Golden Suns reached double-figures Higgins (15), Villines (12), Goodsell (11) and Stackhouse (10).
• Villines grabbed a team-high eight rebounds. Higgins added a team-high seven assists.