RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Arkansas Tech women's basketball team extended their winning streak out to five games in dramatic fashion on Thursday night as they overcame a four-point deficit in the final minute of regulation and beat East Central by a score of 71-69.
After falling behind as much eight points early in the first quarter, the Golden Suns fought their way back and flipped the script in the second quarter, building out a lead as high as seven points before going into halftime up by five, 37-32.
Several times in the third, the Golden Suns pushed the lead out to double digits, reaching a high mark of 11 twice. The last of those came at the 3:27 mark of the third quarter. By the end of the third, however, East Central had battled back and were only down four points, 55-51.
By the 7:14 mark of the fourth quarter, East Central had overtaken the lead and by the 6:54 mark, were up by four, 59-55, thanks to a made three-pointer. The Golden Suns matched that three on their next trip down the floor with a make by
Perina Leime.
Not long after that, Leime had added four more points to cap a personal 7-0 run that put Tech up by three, 62-59, with 5:37 to play.
That would be as large of a lead as the Golden Suns would have and by the 3:48 mark. ECU was back on top, 64-62. With 49 seconds left, ECU was back out to the aforementioned four-point lead after converting a conventional three-point play.
The Golden Suns one more returned the favor as
Logan Young cashed in an and-one opportunity the next trip down the floor. The Tigers would split a trip to the free throw line on their next possession, making it a two-point game.
Now with 14 seconds left, the Golden Suns went to the free throw line with a chance to tie the score, but split their two shots as well, keeping ECU in the lead. That trend continued on ECU's next possession as they went 1-for-2 at the line, this time with 12 seconds left.
After calling a timeout to advance the ball, the Golden Suns got the ball to Young, who tied the game with less than 10 seconds left on a tough layup and was rewarded with an and-one opportunity as well as she was fouled on the take. Young was clutch at the line and made the shot to put Tech up 70-69.
ECU would have a chance at a game-winning layup, but missed the attempt and
ClaraGrace Prater secure the rebound for the Golden Suns and was fouled with one second left, sending her to the line. Prater would add a point with one of two makes from the free throw line. The Tigers would have a chance at a last second game-winning three, but the attempt was short.
Young was the leading scorer for the Golden Suns with 24. It was the fifth-straight game that Young has scored in double-figures and the third out of the last four with at least 20 points. Against ECU, Young was 7-of-11 shooting from the floor and a perfect 10-of-10 from the free throw line.
Leime was next in scoring with 14 points followed by
AbbiGrace Cunningham and her 11 points.
The Golden Suns will now prepare for a home game on Saturday afternoon against Southeastern Oklahoma. Tip-off for the game is scheduled for 1 p.m.
