GAME INFORMATION
ARKANSAS TECH GOLDEN SUNS 7-18 (5-16 GAC)	SOUTHERN ARKANSAS MULERIDERS 13-14 (8-13 GAC)
Saturday, March 1 | 1 p.m. Tucker Coliseum | Russellville, Ark. LIVE STATS | LIVE AUDIO | LIVE VIDEO

TIPPING OFF
The final game of the 2024-25 season has arrived for the Arkansas Tech women's basketball team and they are set to take on Southern Arkansas in the finale this Saturday. The game will mark the final home game for the three seniors on the team, Oliva Jones, Julie Wagner and Andie Zylak.
 
This will be the 101st meeting all-time between Tech and Southern Arkansas. In a series that dates back to 1977, the Golden Suns and Muleriders have played one another at least twice in a season throughout the series as conference rivals. The Golden Suns currently hold an 89-11 record in the series.
 
Tip-off for the game is scheduled for 1 p.m. inside Tucker Coliseum on the campus of Arkansas Tech. Live Stats and Live Video links are available at: www.arkansastechsports.com/coverage
 

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TECH(NICALLY) SPEAKING
The Golden Suns are 7-18 overall and 5-16 in GAC play. They are coming off a 71-66 win on the road at Henderson State this past Thursday night.
 
This season, the Golden Suns average 61.0 ppg and rank 11th in the GAC. On the defensive end of the court, the Golden Suns rank 11th in the league in scoring defense, giving up an average of 67.4 ppg. In terms of field goal percentage and field goal percentage defense, the Golden Suns are 10th in the conference as they shoot at an overall clip of .390 (559-of-1,435) and are allowing their opponents to shoot at a .389 mark (606-of-1,558) to rank fourth.
 
From beyond-the-arc, the Golden Suns shoot at a clip of .272 (112-of-412) to rank 12th in the GAC while their opponents make three-pointers at a mark of .317 (180-of-568) to rank fifth. From the free throw line, the Golden Suns shoot .670 as a team (296-of-442) to rank 11th.
 
Individually, the Golden Suns have no players averaging double figures but have four that average at least 9.0 ppg. AbbiGrace Cunningham leads the way at 9.7 ppg.
 
Julie Wagner leads the team in rebounds with 7.4 rpg. In terms of assists, Andie Zylak leads the team with 3.1 apg.
 
Defensively, the Golden Suns are led in steals by Zylak at 1.6 spg and in blocks by Wagner at 1.0 bpg.
 
The Golden Suns are coached by Dave Wilbers, who is in his 18th season as Tech. During his time at Tech, Wilbers has amassed a 363-152 overall record. Nine times, Wilbers has won 20 or more games at Tech and twice has won 30 or more. In terms of national rankings, a Wilbers-led team has been nationally-ranked at any point in a season 10 times. Among those, he has guided the Golden Suns to the top of the rankings on a pair of occasions during the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons.
 

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SCOUTING THE MULERIDERS
Southern Arkansas is 13-14 overall and are 8-13 in conference play. The Muleriders are coming off a 70-61 win at home against Ouachita Baptist this past Thursday night. Entering the game against Tech, the Muleriders are in a tie for seventh place in the GAC standings and are in position to make the tournament.
 
The Muleriders are not necessarily in a win-and-in scenario, but a win will secure a spot and likely the No. 7-seed. SAU still has a path to the tournament with a loss, but would need to avoid any kind of tie-breaker scenario involving Henderson.
 
Statistically, the Muleriders average 66.4 ppg and rank third in the GAC. On the defensive end of the court, the Muleriders rank seventh in the league in scoring defense, giving up an average of 62.0 ppg. In terms of field goal percentage and field goal percentage defense, the Muleriders are first in the conference as they shoot at an overall clip of .431 (658-of-1,526) and are allowing their opponents a .392 mark (588-of-1,501) to rank sixth.
 
From beyond-the-arc, the Muleriders shoot at a clip of .335 (171-of-511) to rank second in the GAC while their opponents make three-pointers at a mark of .330 (181-of-548) to rank ninth. From the free throw line, the Muleriders shoot .735 as a team (305-of-415) to rank seventh.
 
Individually, the Muleriders have two players averaging double figures in scoring and are led by Tequaza Chambers at 14.3 ppg. Addy Tremie is next and rounds out double figure scoring at 10.9 ppg. Three other players are averaging at least 7.0 ppg as well.
 
Crystal Ortiz and Elena Lijo-Rodriguez are the team leaders in rebounding and are averaging 6.0 rebounds per game each. In terms of assists, Marlee Bright leads the team and is averaging 5.0 assists per game.
 
Defensively, the Muleriders are led in steals by Bright at 3.2 steals per game and in blocks by Lijo-Rodriguez at 2.1 blocks per game.
 
The Muleriders are coached by Darrick Matthews, who is in his first season at Southern Arkansas and his 11^th overall. At SAU, Matthews is 13-14 and is 193-129 overall.