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GAME NOTES | SAU | ATU

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Tipping Off
The Southern Arkansas women's basketball team is back on the road for their toughest test of the season as they will take on #22-ranked Arkansas Tech inside the Tucker Coliseum. Historically opponents of any kind have had a difficult time coming away from Tucker with a win, but is has been particuarly tough for the Lady Muleriders as they are just 1-14 on the road at Arkansas Tech since the start of the 1999-00 season. That lone win at Tech came in 2005 when the Lady Muleriders bested the Golden Suns by 10 points, 75-65.

Despite the historical numbers, the Lady Muleriders will enter play with a good deal of positive momentum in their favor as they as well as Tech have the same overall record
at 9-2. Additionally, the Lady Muleriders have won the most-recent meeting between the two as SAU upset the Golden Suns, 57-52 in Magnolia last year. That win snapped what was an 18-game losing streak to Arkansas Tech. The game will also be a homecoming of sorts for SAU head coach Julio Pacheco as he spent seven seasons as an assistant at Tech before claiming the job at SAU.
 

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LADY MULERIDER NEWS AND NOTES
The Southern Arkansas women's basketball team enters play on Saturday with a 9-2 overall record and a 5-2 mark in the Great American Conference. The Lady Muleriders will also enter the game on a modest two-game winning streak as they beat Henderson State at home in their most-recent action on Thursday night.

On the season, the Lady Muleriders are averaging 79.1 points per game while allowing their opponents to score an average of 69.5 points per game for a scoring margin of +9.5. Their points per game average ranks in a tie for first in the GAC, while their scoring defense ranks seventh and their scoring margin ranks third within the league.

As a team, the Lady Muleriders are shooting .468 (344-of-735) overall from the floor which includes a shooting mark of .340 (53-of-156) from long range. From the free throw line, the Lady Muleriders are shooting .642 (129-of-201). Their overall field goal percentage ranks first in the GAC while their 3-point field goal percentage ranks fifth. At the charity stripe the Lady Muleriders' percentage ranks 12th.

In terms of individual production, the Lady Muleriders have two players averaging double figures with Rosa Bryant leading the way at 22.1 points per game. Bryant's scoring average currently ranks second in the GAC and fourth in DII. The other player averaging double figures is Shana Holmes at 13.4 ppg. Bryant is also the team's leading rebounder at 12.2 rebounds per game. Additionally, Bryant's rebounding average currently ranks in a tie for seventh in DII, making Bryant the only player to rank in the top-10 in each stat category.

Defensively, the Lady Muleriders have forced 199 turnovers with 96 of those being steals. Additionally, the Lady Muleriders are allowing their opponents to shoot at a clip of .383 (261-of-681) overall from the floor and .345 (80-of-232) from beyond the arc.

COACH
The Lady Muleriders are coached by Julio Pacheco, who is in his first season at Southern Arkansas. Prior to becoming the head coach at SAU, Pacheco spent seven seasons as the assistant coach at Arkansas Tech where he helped guide the Golden Suns to the NCAA Tournament four times, advancing as far as the Elite Eight twice. Also while at Tech, Pacheco helped the Golden Suns capture four regular season championships and three conference tournament championships.
 

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SCOUTING ARKANSAS TECH
The Arkansas Tech women's basketball team enters play on Saturday with a 9-2 overall record and a 7-0 mark in the Great American Conference. The Golden Suns are currently the only team in the GAC not to lose a conference game and will come into their game against Southern Arkansas having won their last three games overall.

On the season, the Golden Suns are averaging 79.1 points per game while allowing their opponents to score an average of 63.0 points per game for a scoring margin of +16.1. Their points per game average ranks in a tie for first in the GAC, while their scoring defense ranks second and their scoring margin ranks first within the league.

As a team, the Golden Suns are shooting .462 (316-of-684) overall from the floor which includes a shooting mark of .345 (67-of-194) from long range. From the free throw line, the Golden Suns are shooting .695 (171-of-246). Their overall field goal percentage ranks second in the GAC while their 3-point field goal percentage also ranks second. At the charity stripe the Golden Suns' percentage ranks seventh.

In terms of individual production, the Reddies have two players averaging double figures with Fatima Adams leading the way at 20.1 points per game. Adams' points per game currently rank her third in the GAC. Behind Adams is Anissa Pounds at 10.7 ppg. Aujana Dawkins is just outside of double-figure scoring at 9.9 ppg to rank third on the
team.

Defensively, the Golden Suns have forced 200 turnovers with 88 of those being steals. Additionally, the Golden Suns are allowing their opponents to shoot at a clip of .371 (237-of-639) overall from the floor and .286 (50-of-175) from beyond the arc.

COACH
The Golden Suns are coached by Dave Wilbers, who is in his ninth year at Arkansas Tech. In his previous eight seasons, Wilbers has amassed a 191-49 overall record. Among that, he has had six seasons with 20 or more wins and twice, he has won 30 or more games. In his most-recent victory, Wilbers won his 200th game, a 69-48 road win at Ouachita.
 

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THE SERIES
This is will be the 33rd meeting since the start of the 2000-01 season between the Lady Muleriders and the Golden Suns. In that time, the Golden Suns hold a 27-5 advantage over SAU.

ON TAP
The Lady Muleriders will remain on the road and prepare to play their third game in five days as they travel to Monticello to take on Arkansas-Monticello on "Rivalry Monday" within the GAC. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.