RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. - Following their tough 71-105 loss to Southwestern Oklahoma on Thursday night, the Arkansas Tech Women's Basketball team responded in a postive way with a 65-58 win over Northwestern Oklahoma in Tucker. The Golden Suns move to 9-7 overall and stand at an even 6-6 in Great American Conference play.

Leading the charge for Arkansas Tech was senior guard Jayana Sanders who secured her second double-double of the season with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Sanders also had five assists, three steals and a block to go alongside her double-double. Following Sanders was senior guard Tori Lasker with 16 points, three assists and a pair of steals. Sophomore guard Kaley Shipman put her stamp on the game with 15 points and a solid afternoon from long range shooting 50% (3-of-6). Shipman also grabbed five boards, three assists and three steals. Rounding out the leading scorers for the Golden Suns is junior forward Nikki Metcalfe with 11 points and six rebounds. Metcalfe had a phenomenal game as the leading rim protector with six blocks.

Arkansas Tech got right to work to open the game as Shipman quickly knocked down a long range triple and Lasker got a nice two point jumper to fall to hold an early 5-0 lead over Northwestern Oklahoma. The Rangers fought back with a layup and two successful trips to the free-throw line to take a 6-5 lead, but not before Shipman was able to hit two back-to-back three balls to make it an 11-8 Golden Sun lead with just under a minute to go in the opening quarter. A quick layup in transition by Sanders following her steal would be the final points scored in the first as Arkansas Tech led Northwestern Oklahoma 13-8.

The Golden Suns opened the second quarter the same way they opened the first with a three point bucket, this time from Sanders. A quick 10-4 run by the Rangers cut the Golden Sun lead to just two at 20-18 with 5:06 left in the second quarter. Northwestern found another run, this time 9-2 as they took a sizable 27-22 lead over Arkansas Tech. A three from Sanders and a layup from Shipman made it a two point game before the Rangers hit a two point jumper to make it 31-27 with 24 second left in the second. The Golden Suns would make the most of their final look in the first half as Shipman got a three to fall just before the buzzer to head into the break down just one at 30-31.

Shipman and Sanders continued the scoring effort to start the second half with a jumper and three ball to give the lead back to Arkansas Tech over Northwestern Oklahoma 37-33. Metcalfe proceeded to take the team on a 6-0 run all on her own with six straight points inside and two big blocks on the defensive end to spark the Golden Suns as they held a 45-35 lead over the Rangers with 3:21 left to play in the third quarter. Shipman ended the scoring for Arkansas Tech in the third quarter with a strong layup inside to take a 47-39 lead over Northwestern Oklahoma as they held them to just eight points in the period as they headed into the final quarter of play.

Lasker opened the fourth quarter hot with a quick 4-0 scoring start to extend the Golden Suns lead. The Rangers continued to make the most of their opportunities at the charity stripe knocking down free throws. Northwestern Oklahoma shot 95% (19-20) from the line in the game. Lasker continued her scoring effort in the final quarter with a three ball and sinking one of two free throws to give Arkansas Tech a 57-46 lead with just over two minutes remaining in the game. The Rangers tried to make a comeback down the stretch after hitting a long range bomb and came as close to back within four, but the Golden Suns would hold them off to take the 65-58 home floor victory.

The Golden Suns will hit the road and head to Oklahoma for their next matchup against East Central on Thursday, January 27. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. that evening from Ada.