RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Arkansas Tech women's basketball team lost their first game of the 2025-26 season at home on Thursday night against (rv) Northwestern Oklahoma, 72-66.
The first quarter was back-and-forth throughout most of action with a pair of lead changes, seven tie scores and neither team leading by more than two points. The last of those ties was broken by Northwestern Oklahoma at the 1:54 mark of the first quarter. By the end of the opening period, the Rangers had built the lead out as large as six, 22-16.
That lead then grew as large as nine points early in the second quarter, but the Golden Suns managed to pull within a point, 27-26, by the 5:32 mark. NWOSU weathered that push by Tech and remained in the lead and once again pushed it out as high as nine points by the 1:29 mark before going into the half with a seven-point lead, 46-39.
The third quarter was controlled by the Rangers as they extended the lead to double digits and a high-watermark of 17 by the 4:01 mark. The Golden Suns rallied and were able to cut the deficit to single digits by the end of the period, 62-53.
The surge by Tech continued early in the fourth quarter as they pulled within a possession, 62-59, with 5:52 to play. Once more, NWOSU was able to withstand the Golden Suns as stayed in the lead the rest of the way out. The Golden Suns did make one final push to get back within a possession, 68-65, with under 40 seconds to play thanks to a 5-0 scoring burst that started at the 1:35 mark.
NWOSU was able to make all four of their free throws down the stretch to secure the six-point win, 76-66.
The Golden Suns had three players in double figures and were led by
AbbiGrace Cunningham and her 14 points. She added a team-high eight rebounds.
Logan Young and Hayleigh Wyrich rounded double-figure scoring with 10 points apiece.
The Golden Suns will now prepare for a home game against Southwestern Oklahoma on Saturday afternoon. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. from Tucker Coliseum.
