TIPPING OFFÂ
For the first time since the 2009-10 season, the Arkansas Tech Golden Suns are sitting at 10-0 to start the season after defeating Southern Arkansas, 90-82 in their last outing. Arkansas Tech will travel to Arkadelphia to face Henderson State for the first time in the Duke Wells Center this season.
In their last outing the Golden Suns took down Southern Arkansas for the third timet this season. Like their first two meetings, the Golden Suns offense shined. Arkansas Tech shot a blistering 53.8 percent from the field. The Lady Muleriders scored the first points of the game but the Golden Suns answered with a jumper from
Nikki Metcalfe. Southern Arkansas took a three-point lead, 21-18 before another jumper from Metcalfe tied things at 24-24 at the end of the first quarter.
The Lady Muleriders jumped to a quick five-point lead, 31-26, with 8:31 left in the half. A lay-up from
Jalei Oglesby tied the teams at 40-40 with two minutes to go in the half. A 6-2 run from the Golden Suns, TIPPING OFF finished by a layup from
Jayana Sanders, gave them the lead, 46-42 at the end of the first half.
The Golden Suns found their stride in the third quarter, extending their lead to 14, 68-54 after a jumper from
Sydnee Wynn. Arkansas Tech finished the third quarter up 72-61.
The Lady Muleriders did not go quietly, as they pulled with four, 72-68 in the first two minutes of the fourth quarter. A jumper from
Kaley Shipman put the Golden Suns up eight, 78-70 with five minutes left to play. Southern Arkansas got within two, 78-76 with less than five minutes to play. The Golden Suns remained poised, scoring 12 more points to take the game, 90-82.
TECH TIDBITS
The Golden Suns enter play against Henderson State with a 10-0 overall record and a 9-0 mark in the GAC. As a team, the Golden Suns are averaging 85.6 ppg and rank second in the GAC. On the defensive end of the court, the Golden Suns sport the fifth-best scoring defense in the league, giving up an average of 68.4 ppg. In terms of field goal percentage, the Golden Suns are the best in the conference as they are shooting at an overall clip of .483 (335-of-693), and limiting opponents to a .331 mark (236-of-713).
Individually, the Golden Suns have five players averaging double figures in scoring. Newcomer
Ashlei Lopez leads the way at 16.6 ppg. Behind her is sophomore
Kaley Shipman at 14.3 ppg. Shipman is followed by senior
Jayana Sanders with 12.7 ppg and redshirt freshman
Jalei Oglesby with 12.3. Junior newcomer
Nikki Metcalfe rounds out double-figure scoring for the Golden Suns at 11.4 ppg.
The Golden Suns are coached by
Dave Wilbers, who is in his 14th season on the sidelines at Tech. A newly-minted member of the 300-career win club, Wilbers has a career record of 308-93. Overall in his time at Tech, Wilbers has kept the Golden Suns as perennial contenders in the GAC, the region and the nation, winning 20 or more games nine times, capturing six conference regular championships, five conference tournament championships and advancing to eight NCAA Regional Tournaments.
SCOUTING THE REDDIES
Henderson State enters their game against the Golden Suns 4-5 overall and4-4 in the GAC. The Reddies are riding a three-game winning streak after taking down Southern Arkansas, Ouachita Baptist, and Harding in the span of a seven days. Henderson missed their last two games due to inclement weather. In their last outing, the Reddies took down Harding, 82-75.
The Reddies outscored the Lady Bisons in every quarter. Henderson took the lead in the first 45 seconds of play and never trailed in the 40 minutes of play. Maci Mains poured in 26 points in the Reddies win. The Reddies have three players averaging double figures. Ashley Farrar leads the way with 14.5 ppg, followed by Maci Mains with 13.6 ppg and Sonni Martin with 10.4 ppg.
The Reddies are coached by Jill Thomas, who is in her ninth season at Henderson State. In her time as a head coach at Henderson State, she has amassed 107-100 record.
