RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Arkansas Tech women's basketball team bounced back from their first loss of the season this past Thursday night and used a strong fourth quarter on Saturday afternoon to come away with a 71-63 win over Southwestern Oklahoma at home.
Overall, the game was closely contested throughout with a total of three tie scores and 13 lead changes. At the end of each of the first three periods, the Golden Suns trailed Southwestern Oklahoma but were within striking distance each time as well.
The deficit was just three points heading into the fourth quarter, 50-47, as
Logan Young was able to score a layup in the closing seconds of the period. Not long into the fourth, the Golden Suns were trailing by five points, 52-47, with 8:26 left, but a quick answer from
Shalyn Lyle on the ensuing possession sparked a 13-0 run that the Golden Suns went on over the next four minutes of action.
That flipped a five-point deficit into an eight-point lead, 60-52. During that stretch, the Golden Suns hit two of the five three-points they would make in the game and had an old-fashioned three-point play mixed in as well.
Jaiden Smith was responsible for one of the long-range makes as well as the hoop-and-harm while
Hayleigh Wyrick cashed the first three of the sequence.
SWOSU got as close as three points with just over three minutes left in regulation, but a personal 5-0 heat check from
Perina Leime gave the Golden Suns back a comfortable lead. The Golden Suns would then close out the game going 6-of-6 from the charity stripe to preserve the win, 71-63.
The Golden Suns had a balanced scoring effort with five players in double figures. Young and Wyrick led the way with 12 points each.
Jadah Pickens and Leime had 11 while
Dessie Lancaster added 10 points. Lancaster also had 11 rebounds to post her second double-double of the season.
Tech will now prepare for their next game, a road contest at Henderson State on Thursday, December 11. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
