RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – Both the Southern Arkansas and Arkansas Tech women's basketball teams entered play Saturday afternoon with a 9-2 overall record, but by the final horn, it was Arkansas Tech that improved to 10-2 on the season as the #22-ranked Golden Suns defeated the Lady Muleriders 91-73 inside Tucker Coliseum.
 
The beginning of the game was a back-and-forth tussle as there were a total of six lead changes through the first six plus minutes of the first quarter. The final in the fury of lead changes came at the 4:30 mark of the first quarter as the Golden Suns' (10-2, 8-0 GAC) Anissa Pounds converted a conventional three-point play to give Tech a 10-8 lead. Over the next minute and a half, the Golden Suns would go on an 8-0 run to push their lead up to double-digits, 18-8.
 
A quick 5-0 burst from the Lady Muleriders (9-3, 5-3 GAC) cut that 10-point deficit in half, but the Golden Suns would carry an eight-point lead into the second quarter.
 
In that second quarter, Tech seized control of the game, out-scoring the Lady Muleriders 27-18 to take a 17-point lead into the locker room, 48-31.
 
In that opening half, the Lady Muleriders had a hard time shooting the ball as they shot 34% (11-of-32) overall from the floor. Meanwhile the Golden Suns shot over 50% making good on 15-of-29 field goal attempts from the floor.
 
In the second half, the Lady Muleriders would turn their shooting around as they shot over 50% (15-of-29) themselves over the final two quarters, but a consistent second half from the Golden Suns kept a SAU comeback at bay.
 
Statistically, the Lady Muleriders had four players in double figures with Shana Holmes leading the way with 14 points. Behind Holmes was Rosa Bryant with 12 points and a pair of freshmen in Jaida Harden and Alyssa Hamilton rounded out double-figure scoring with Harden having 11 and Hamilton 10, respectively. Additionally, Bryant and Hamilton were just one rebound shy of posting double-doubles.
 
The Lady Muleriders will now prepare for another quick turnaround as they are traveling to Monticello to take on Arkansas-Monticello this Monday night for "Rivalry Night in the GAC". Tip-off against the Cotton Blossoms is set for 5:30 p.m. inside the Steeleman Fieldhouse.