ADA, Okla. – The Arkansas Tech women's basketball team came up just short on the road at East Central on Saturday, losing by a score of 65-62.
In the first quarter, East Central got the scoring started with a three-pointer on their first possession of the game. The Tigers would remain in the lead, albeit not by a large margin, throughout the rest of the opening period. The largest lead, in fact, for the Tigers in the first quarter was just five points.
Early in the second quarter, the Golden Suns took their first lead of the game at the 8:21 mark on a mid-range jumper by
Hayleigh Wyrick. Over the next two and a half minutes of game time, the lead would change hands three times and the score would be tied twice. The final tie score in that stretch was broken by ECU at the 3:53 mark and the Tigers would go on to stay in the lead through the remainder of the half, but Tech was able to cut their deficit down to two points, 32-30.
ECU maintained their lead in the third quarter and built the lead out as large as seven points on a couple of occasions with the last of those coming at the 5:44 mark. The Golden Suns would answer back, however with an 8-1 run over the next 3:41 to tie the score at 46-all. ECU did not relinquish their lead and eventually carried a four-point lead into the fourth quarter.
In the fourth, the Golden Suns continued to chip away and eventually grabbed a one-point lead, 54-53, at the 7:19 mark on a painted jumper by
ClaraGrace Prater. That lead was short-lived however as the Tigers made good on a pair of free throws on their ensuing possession.
The Tigers then were able to build their lead back out to seven points by the 1:53 mark. The Golden Suns had one final push in them and scored six unanswered points over the next minute and a half to pull within a point, 63-62.
That would be as close as they would get, however, as ECU made good on their final two free throw attempts in the waning seconds to preserve the win.
Statistically, the Golden Suns had three players score in double figures and were led by
Alex Hill and her 24 points.
Dana Thompson was next with 11 points. Thompson also added 12 points to register her second-straight double-double and sixth overall this season. Prater rounded out double-figure scoring with 10 points.
The Golden Suns will now return home for a pair of games next week. Up first is a Thursday night matchup with undefeated and nationally-ranked Southern Nazarene. Tip-off for the game is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. from inside Tucker Coliseum.
