ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – The Arkansas Tech women's basketball team used a balanced and steady offensive attack on Thursday night to beat Henderson State, 89-72, on the road and hand the Reddies their first loss of the season.
In the win, the Golden Suns scored at least 20 points in all four quarters and shot 46.6% overall from the floor (27-of-58). Only three of their made field goals came from beyond the arc, but what they lacked in long range shooting, the Golden Suns more than made up for it at the free throw line.
After attempting just six free throws in the first half and making four of those, the Golden Suns would practically live at the free throw line in the second half as the ended up attempting 38 free throws. Overall, the Golden Suns would make 32 of their free throw attempts with 28 of those coming in the second half.
That high success rate in the second half, helped the Golden Suns create separation from the Reddies as it was just two-point game at the break, 43-41, in favor of Arkansas Tech.
The separation began in the third quarter as the Golden Suns doubled up the Reddies, 24-12. Neither team shot the ball particularly well that period as Tech was 6-of-15 and Henderson was 1-of-10 from the field. Tech would go to the line 14 times and make 12 in the third quarter to help them take a 14-point lead into the fourth.
In the fourth quarter, the Golden Suns had their lowest shooting percentage from the field, going 3-of-12. Despite that, the Golden Suns were able to hold off any real threat of a Henderson comeback in the final period as they made 16-of-18 free throws.
The balanced scoring across the quarters for the Golden Suns also showed up individually as Tech had four players score in double figures and two go for at least 20 points.
AbbiGrace Cunningham led the way on Thursday with 21 points. She was 7-of-15 overall from the floor and 5-of-6 from the free throw line.
Next in scoring and putting up a career-high 20 points was
Logan Young. The freshman from Dover was 6-of-9 overall from the floor and 8-of-8 from the free throw line. Behind Young was former Reddie,
Jadah Pickens. In her first game against her former team, Pickens scored 13 points and was 4-of-4 from the field and 5-of-8 from the free throw line.
Dessie Lancaster rounded out double-figure scoring with an even 10 points.
The Golden Suns will now prepare for a home conference game against Southern Arkansas on Monday, December 15. That game is scheduled for a 5:30 p.m. tip-off from Tucker Coliseum.
