RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – Saturday's Arkansas Tech women's basketball game, in which the 50
th anniversary of Tucker Coliseum was being celebrated at halftime of, was a genuine tale of two halves and even some overtime as the Golden Suns overcame a double-digit halftime deficit and beat Oklahoma Baptist, 80-75, in overtime.
That sluggish first half for the Golden Suns saw them struggle offensively as they shot just 20.5% (8-of-39) overall from the floor. Their relative saving grace through the first 20 minutes of action was three makes from three-point range and 9-of-12 success from the charity stripe, but their 28 points scored in the first half were just two more than Oklahoma Baptist put up in the first quarter alone.
The Bison would add 15 points to that total in the second quarter and went into the locker with 41 points scored and a 13-point lead.
The script began to flip in the third quarter as the Golden Suns found their footing offensively and put up 25 points on 9-of-16 (56.3%) shooting overall. That allowed the Golden Suns to make it a five-point game heading into the fourth quarter.
In the fourth, the Golden Suns opened that period on a 6-0 run to take their first lead since the 9:17 mark of the first quarter. The lead was short-lived, however as Oklahoma Baptist scored on their next possession. The Bison would stay in the lead until the 2:38 mark when
Jadah Pickens hit a layup that broke a 63-all tie.
Again, the lead did not last long, but this time it was Oklahoma Baptist hitting a three-pointer to retake the lead. They would add a second triple not long after that to push their lead back out to four points with 1:34 left on the clock.
After that second three-pointer, the Golden Suns got a quick layup from Pickens to get within two points of the lead, 69-67, with 1:23 left.
Neither team would score down the stretch until the Golden Suns went to the free throw line with less than 10 seconds left in regulation with a chance to tie the score. Tech would split the trip to the line, leaving it a one-point game with seven seconds left.
Having only committed one foul to that point in the quarter, the Golden Suns were forced to commit four fouls with as little time ticking off the game clock to send the Bison to the line in hopes of getting one more possession.
The Golden Suns were able to accomplish that and sent the Bison to the line with just over two seconds left on the clock. The first free throw was good to make it a two-point game, but the second one missed.
AbbiGrace Cunningham was able to secure the defensive rebound and a timeout by Tech was called with a little over one second left, allowing them to advance the ball to the front court.
Out of the timeout, the Golden Suns drew up a play for their standout freshman
Logan Young for a potential game-tying layup. Young wouldn't get the chance to get the shot off as she was fouled with less than a second left.
Unfazed by the moment, the Dover native sank both free throws to tie the game and force overtime.
In overtime, the Golden Suns were first to gain control and had a six-point lead with 2:30 left thanks to a layup and three-pointer from Cunningham and a trifecta from Young. The Bison would cut the lead in half at the 1:28 mark on an old-fashioned three-point play.
That would be the final scoring the Bison would get and the Golden Suns eventually made it a five-point victory with a pair of free throws from Shayln Lyle with less than two seconds left in overtime.
Four Golden Suns scored in double figures with Young leading the way with 23 points. It was her eighth 20-plus point game this season. She added 10 rebounds to record her first double-double of the season. Cunningham was next in scoring with 17 points. She also had a double-double with 11 rebounds.
Lyle was next with 11 points followed by 10 from Pickens.
The Golden Suns will now prepare for a home game on Monday night against Arkansas-Monticello. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
