GAME DAY INFORMATION
ARKANSAS TECH GOLDEN SUNS 14-1 (12-1 GAC)	EAST CENTRAL TIGERS 12-7 (11-7 GAC)
Friday, March 5  | 5:30 p.m. Russellville, Ark. | Tucker Coliseum LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO | LISTEN LIVE | ATU Notes (PDF)

TIPPING OFF
After a convincing 86-62 win over East Central in the GAC championship tournament quarterfinals, the No. 17 Arkansas Tech Golden Suns are set to appear in their ninth consecutive GAC tournament semifinal.
 
In their quarterfinal matchup, the Golden Suns never trailed the Tigers of East Central. Arkansas Tech continued its hot streak on the offensive side, shooting 44 percent from the field and pouring in 25 or more points in second and third quarters of the game. The Golden Suns also poured in a season-high 14 three-pointers. 
 
Ashlei Lopez started the game, driving the ball and picking up two free throws in the first five seconds of play, giving the Golden Suns a 2-0 lead. A jumper from Lopez gave Arkansas Tech its largest lead of the quarter (11), 13-2, with six minutes left in the opening quarter. The defense from the Golden Suns held the Tigers to just eight points in the first quarter, taking a 15-8 lead going into the second.
 
The Golden Suns pushed their lead to 15, 23-8, scoring the first eight points of the quarter with free throws from Hannah Villines and back-to-back threes from Villines and Kaley Shipman. East Central managed just 10 points in the second quarter, while Arkansas Tech poured in 27 points in the quarter. Back-to-back jumpers from Sydnee Wynn and a three from Jayana Sanders secured the 24-point lead, 42-18 going into halftime.
 
East Central had no answer for Arkansas Tech, as the Golden Suns kept things rolling, taking their largest lead of 28, 48-28, in the first minute of the second half. The Tigers were able to pull within 20, 62-42 before a three from Trelynn Tyler pushed the Golden Suns up 67-42. East Central grabbed a quick bucket before the quarter ended, going into the fourth trailing 67-44.
 
Arkansas Tech went back up 26, 76-50 after a three from Jalei Oglesby with 6:46 left in the game. East Central managed to score 12 more points in the quarter but Anna Myers scored the last basket of the game, securing the Golden Suns 86-62 victory.
 
TECH TIDBITS
The Golden Suns enter play against Southern Arkansas with a 14-1 overall record and a 12-1 mark in the GAC. As a team, the Golden Suns are averaging 86.9 ppg and rank first in the GAC. On the defensive end of the court, the Golden Suns sport the seventh-best scoring defense in the league, giving up an average of 72.5 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 .484 (501-of-1035), and limit opponents to a .352 mark (372-of-1056). 

Individually, the Golden Suns have six players averaging double figures in scoring. Newcomer Ashlei Lopez leads the way at 17.2 ppg. Behind her is redshirt freshman Jalei Oglesby with 13.5. Oglesby is followed by sophomore Kaley Shipman at 13.4 ppg. Shipman is followed senior Jayana Sanders with 12.0 ppg and. Junior newcomer Nikki Metcalfe averages 10.4 ppg and senior Hannah Villines rounds out double-figure scoring for the Golden Suns at 10.1 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 312-94. 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 seventh conference regular championships, five conference tournament championships and advancing to eight NCAA Regional Tournaments. 
 
SCOUTING THE SAVAGE STORM
Southeastern Oklahoma State enters the game against the Golden Suns, sitting at 12-7 overall with an 11-7 GAC record. The Savage Storm advanced to the semifinals after taking down Harding, 73-55. Southeastern shot 46 percent from the field, 44 percent from behind the arc and a perfect 11-11 from the charity stripe.
 
In their GAC tournament debut, the Savage Storm traded points with the Lady Bisons in the opening quarter with neither team leading by more than four throughout the first 10 minutes. Southeastern found its stride in the second quarter, holding Harding to just 12 points and pouring in 27 of their own, taking a 17-point lead, 43-26, going into halftime. The Savage Storm maintained their lead throughout the final two quarters, taking down the Lady Bisons, 73-55.
 
The Savage Storm has three players averaging double-figures, led by Kamryn Cantwell with 16.9 ppg and Briley Moon with 16.5 ppg. Katie Branam rounds out double-figure scoring with 11.7 ppg.
 
Southeastern Oklahoma State is coached by Darin Grover. Grover is in his 16th season at the helm of the Savage Storm. In his 16 season, Grover has amassed a 247-192 record.