RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Arkansas Tech women's basketball team had one of its more dominant first half performances of the season on Saturday against Northwestern Oklahoma and it helped lead them to a 64-51 win at home.
That first half saw the Golden Suns limit the Rangers to just 19 points on 24% shooting overall from the floor (6-of-25). From three-point range, Tech held NWOSU to 2-of-10 shooting (20%). While the defense was shutting down NWOSU, the Golden Suns found a good deal of success on the offensive end, especially in the second quarter.
After taking a 12-9 lead into the second period, the Golden Suns scored 22 in the second and did so on 57% shooting overall from the floor (8-of-14). The mixture of offense and defense for the Golden Suns in the second quarter helped them grab a lead as large as 18 points, 34-16, with 2:19 on the clock before entering halftime with a 15-point advantage, 34-19.
Northwestern was able to find some footing offensively in the second half and nearly doubled their point total in the third quarter alone, but the Golden Suns continued to make shots of their own and out-scored NWOSU 18-15 in the third to make it an 18-point game heading into the fourth. During the third quarter, the Golden Suns swelled their lead as large as 23 points.
In the fourth quarter, the Rangers attempted to comeback in the game, but the Golden Suns would only allow them to get as close as 10 points with 6:01 to play. After NWOSU got that close, the Golden Suns ripped of a 6-0 run to re-establish control of the game and go back up by 16 points. The eventual final margin would be 13 for the Golden Suns.
Statistcally, the Golden Suns had three players score in double figures and were led by
Julie Wagner and her season-high 20 points. Wagner was 9-of-13 overall from the floor and 2-of-2 from the free throw line. She also added six rebounds, a block and three steals.
AbbiGrace Cunningham was next in scoring with 12 points. Cunningham also had six rebounds.
Hayleigh Wyrick rounded out double-figure scoring with 11 points off the bench.
The Golden Suns will now prepare for their final road swing to Oklahoma next week as they will play at Southern Nazarene on Thursday and Oklahoma Baptist on Saturday. Tip-off for the game at SNU is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
