BARTLESVILLE, Okla. – It's a quick turnaround for both Southern Arkansas and Arkansas Tech as the two programs are set to square off for the third time in 2016; this time in primetime for Saturday's Great American Conference Tournament Semifinal, as both teams advanced after picking up quarterfinal victories on Friday evening inside Bruin Fieldhouse. Tip-off is slated for 8 p.m.
 
The Lady Muleriders (19-8) set an NCAA Division II program record for wins in a season with 19 after last night's 80-71 triumph over Henderson State. Regular season champion #15 Arkansas Tech (24-3) advanced to Saturday after surviving eighth-seeded Arkansas-Monticello with a bucket at the horn, 60-58. In the two previous meetings this season, Arkansas Tech defeated the Lady Muleriders both times: 91-73 in Russellville and 77-68 in Magnolia.
 
Coming off their third postseason victory in the Division II era, Southern Arkansas has won five out of their last six games. The Lady Muleriders, through 27 games, are averaging 75.3 points per game; the third-best mark in the GAC, while opponents score just 68.4 points on average. Tech averages a league-best 83.2 points per game. The semifinal showdown will pit a pair of similar playing styles as both teams that rank in the league's top-three in field goal percentage, field goal percentage defense, three-point field goal percentage, three-point field goal percentage defense, rebounding margin, assists and assist-to-turnover ratio. Both teams average below three blocks per game, while SAU paces the conference in steals at 8.7 per game.
 
Two of league's best players will face-off in SAU senior forward Rosa Bryant (18.9 ppg) and Arkansas Tech senior forward Fatima Adams (21.3 ppg). Both players were First-Team All-GAC Selections, with Bryant being a unanimous pick and Adams garnering Conference Player of the Year honors.
 
For Southern Arkansas, senior guard Shana Holmes paces SAU in minutes-played and three-point percentage with classmate Tierra Tucker leading SAU in assists and free-throw attempts. Freshman Jaida Harden and junior Caroline Ficher will provide huge minutes in the backcourt, while senior Shunta Nevitt and freshman Alyssa Hamilton will work inside for the Lady Muleriders.  
 
For the Golden Suns, All-GAC Second-Team Selection Anissa Pounds, Bre Brooks, Fabiana Monte, and Kelsey McClure will work the perimeter, while Aujana Dawkins and Danielle Frachiseur will operate inside.
 
For up-to-date individual statistics for both teams, follow this link: http://greatamericanconference.com/custompages/WBK%20Stats/2015-16/confldrs.htm.
 
In their most recent meeting this season, the Lady Muleriders jumped out to an eight-point advantage and lead by four after three quarters in a contest that saw six tie scores and 12 lead changes with largest lead for either team not exceeding nine points. An 11-2 Golden Sun run proved to be the difference as Tech took the nine-point win.
 
The winner of Saturday's semifinal showdown will advance to the tournament championship, matching up with the winner of three-seeded Southwestern Oklahoma State and seven-seeded East Central on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. Fans can follow all the action live via live stats and live video from the GAC Sports Network by following this link to the GAC Basketball Championship Central: http://greatamericanconference.com/sports/2016/2/8/2016-GAC-BKB-CHAMPIONSHIPS.aspx. The Voice of the Muleriders, Dan Gregory, will have the play-by-play call live from inside Bruin Fieldhouse available here: http://bit.ly/1Tsc86R.