ADA, Okla. - Following their 65-58 win over Northwestern Oklahoma State in Tucker Coliseum on Saturday, the Arkansas Tech Women's Basketball team comes up with another big conference win as they knock of East Central on the road ending their five game win streak. The Golden Suns move to 10-7 overall and 7-6 in conference play.
The Golden Suns ended the game with four players hitting double figures in scoring. Leading the way was
Kaley Shipman with 23 points, five rebounds, an assist and a steal. Shipman also knocked down 12 of her 14 free throws from the line. Notching her best scoring effort so far as a member of the Golden Suns was freshman guard
Alex Hill with 17 points, six boards and an assist. Hill was sizzling from beyond the arc knocking down 66.7% (4-of-6) from long range. Closing out the top scorers for Tech was
Nikki Metcalfe and
Tori Lasker each putting up 15 points. Lasker also contributed five rebounds and four assists, while Metcalfe was solid on the defensive end once again for the Golden Suns coming up with three blocks.
Arkansas Tech wasted no time setting the tempo to open the game as Hill quickly nailed a pair of back-to-back three pointers and went 1-for-2 at the line to put them on the board. Lasker followed Hill with a triple of her own as the  Golden Suns opened the first quarter on a 10-0 run. East Central found their offensive footing quickly cutting into the lead with a 7-0 run to make it a 10-7 lead for Tech with just under six minutes remaining in the first.
A quick jumper from Shipman and Hill's third three ball of the quarter pushed the Golden Sun lead to 19-15 with 3:00 left to go in the first. The Tigers would close the first quarter of play strong with back-to-back three pointers and a 2-for-2 trip to the line as they took their first lead of the game 23-21 heading into the second quarter.
This time East Central would open strong as they quickly hit another pair of triples and got a two pointer to fall extending their lead nine at 31-22. The Golden Suns would find a 9-0 run to tie the game due to some trips to the line and some baskets from
Jayana Sanders, Metcalfe and Shipman. That 9-0 run would extend to 12-0 as Shipman would connect on a three ball to give back the lead to Tech at 34-31 with 2:46 left in the first half. A three point basket from the Tigers would give them a 38-36 lead, but not before a two point jumper at the buzzer from Lasker would fall sending the teams into the break tied at 38.
The Golden Suns would continue their hot shooting as Lasker opened up the second half with a pair of three baskets to put Tech back on top 46-40. Another long range bomb from Hill and a layup for Metcalfe extended the Tech lead to 52-46 over East Central.
ClaraGrace Prater and Metcalfe closed out the scoring for the Golden Suns in the third quarter with a pair of two point baskets as they headed into the final quarter of play in good position holding a 63-52 lead over the Tigers.
East Central began the fourth quarter with a two point jumper and a three ball to mount some pressure on Tech. Shipman and Hill responded well, as both guards knocked down their charity stripe opportunities early in the quarter to keep the scoring steady. The Tigers found a 6-0 run down the stretch to cut the Golden Suns lead to just six with 3:06 remaining in the game. East Central would come as close to within four points, but Arkansas Tech would close out the game and hold them at bay with their hot free throw shooting to earn the 79-71 win. With the win, the Golden Suns sweep the regular season series against the Tigers winning both matchups.
The Golden Suns will stay on the road for their next game as they head to Durant, Okla. to take on Southeastern on Saturday. Tip-off is set for 1:00 p.m. Saturday afternoon.
