RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. - Following the win in their battle against Harding on Monday night, the Arkansas Tech Women's Basketball team had another tough clash against Oklahoma Baptist but emerged with the 57-53 win. The Golden Suns move to 12-8 overall on the season with a 9-7 overall record against Great American Conference opponents.
Leading the way for Arkansas Tech was senior guard
Jayana Sanders with 18 points, four rebounds, six assists and one block. Following behind Sanders was the backcourt duo of
Kaley Shipman and
Ashlei Lopez as the pair of guards both put up 13 points against the Bison. Shipman collected five boards, three assists and two steals while Lopez pulled down two rebounds, picked up an assist and came up with a steal.
The first quarter started slow for both sides as nine total points was scored between both sides in the first five minutes. Following the media timeout, the Golden Suns got a three ball to fall courtesy of Sanders to lift them up to an 8-4 lead over the Bison with 4:15 left to go in the first quarter of action.
Lopez would would follow the missed layup by Oklahoma Baptist with a made layup for the Golden Suns. The Bison would find three points thanks to a made two point basket with a foul that was converted on the line to cut the Tech lead down to just two points at 10-8. A layup from Lopez and a two point jumper from Shipman would give the Golden Suns the edge needed to end the quarter with a 14-10 lead.
To start the second quarter of action, freshman guard
Alex Hill got the Arkansas Tech offense going with a quick layup in the paint, while Oklahoma Baptist hit a triple to stay alive. The Bison would tie the game with 5:01 left in the first half following a layup to make it 17-17. A few bad fouls by Oklahoma Baptist would cost them as Lopez would go 4/4 the next two trips down the floor. Following her made freebies, Lopez would connect on a triple to give the Golden Suns some breathing room holding a 26-20 lead over the Bison with just under three minutes left in the first half of play. Arkansas Tech would go into the halftime break holding a 26-22 lead over Oklahoma Baptist.
The Bison opened the second half with a quick 5-0 run to take a 27-26 lead, but not before Shipman would hit a three pointer and Sanders would get a strong layup inside to fall putting the lead back into Tech's hands at 31-27. Both sides started committing fouls in the middle of the third leading to multiple trips to the line for both the Bison and the Golden Suns. A layup by Sanders down the stretch of the third gave Tech a 40-36 lead, but Oklahoma Baptist would nail a three point basket. The Golden Suns headed into the final quarter of play holding the 40-39 lead.
Oklahoma Baptist once again started with a quick run, this time an 8-0 run that allowed them to take a 47-40 lead over Tech with 7:30 left in the fourth quarter. A jumper from Metcalfe and another three from Shipman would cut the Bison lead to just four. Sanders would tie the game for the Golden Suns as she went 2-for-2 from the line following a Bison foul, then sunk a mid range jumper to tie it at 49-49. With 3:01 left to play in the game, Metcalfe would give the Golden Suns the lead once again with a quick mid range jumper. Time ran out for the Bison as they were forced to foul down the stretch and it cost them as the Golden Suns would knock down every free throw attempt at the end of the quarter to take down Oklahoma Baptist 57-53.
The Golden Suns will get some rest on Friday to prepare for their game on Saturday against Southern Nazarene in Tucker Coliseum. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Saturday afternoon.
