RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – Trailing by as many as 12 points early in the fourth quarter, the Arkansas Tech women's basketball team rallied to tie the score on a pair of occasions late in the game, but were unable to take a lead and ultimately fell to Southern Arkansas at home, 86-84.
That 12-point lead for SAU was the largest of the game for the Muleriders and came on the opening possession of the fourth quarter. The Golden Suns quickly got the SAU lead to single digits as they got a made three-pointer from
Jaiden Smith on the ensuing possession. That three-pointer by Smith was just the second of the game for the Golden Suns and the first since the first quarter.
SAU would not give up much ground from their lead early in the fourth quarter, but the Golden Suns were able to get within four points of the Muleriders, 73-69, at the 6:21 mark. By the 4:52 mark, the Golden Suns were within a point, and then seconds later, in the lead, 76-76, on a
Dessie Lancaster layup.
A pair of free throws from
Logan Young extended the Tech lead out to three points, 78-75, with 3:39 left. Unfortunately, the lead was short-lived as SAU hit a tying three-pointer on their next trip down the floor. By the 1:34 mark, the Muleriders had a five-point lead, 83-78.
Tech would go on a 4-0 spurt to pull within a point, 83-82, with 24 seconds left.
The Golden Suns were then forced to foul three times to send the Muleriders to the line in hopes of getting more possessions. The strategy paid off as SAU split the trip to the line to make it a two-point game with 15 seconds to play.
After that, the Golden Suns got a wide-open layup attempt with just under two seconds left from Smith to tie the game at 84-all. SAU then called a timeout to advance the ball. Out of the inbounds play, SAU got a clean layup look as well and made the attempt with just under a second left to go up 86-84. Tech would get a potential game-winning shot off, but it was no good, giving SAU the two-point win.
Four players would score in double figures for Tech in the game with
AbbiGrace Cunningham leading the way with 17. Next was
Jadah Pickens with 16.
Perina Leime and Lancaster rounded out double-figure scoring with 10 points apiece.
The Golden Suns will now prepare for a road game at Arkansas-Monticello on Thursday night. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
