BARTLESVILLE, Okla. - It was a matchup fitting for the primetime spot of Saturday's action during the 2016 Great American Conference Tournament as Southern Arkansas, led by senior forward Rosa Bryant's 27 points, was resilient for four quarters as they fell just short of #15 Arkansas Tech in a 99-85 loss to Golden Suns in the tourney's second semifinal affair inside Bruin Fieldhouse.

The Lady Muleriders (19-9) fought from the onset delivering a tough defense performance by holding Tech to just three triples in the first half, while taking advantage of trips to the charity stripe by connecting on 11-straight free throws to start the game and finishing 14-of-15 (93.3%) in the first half. SAU produced their best game from the charity stripe this season (23-of-27 / .852) when attempting at least five free throws. Tierra Tucker led the way at the line by going 8-of-10 from the stripe.

A back-and-forth first quarter made for March saw the Golden Suns lead 20-19 heading into the final ten minutes of the opening half. Arkansas Tech grasped the momentum coming out of the quarter break as they knocked down two three-pointers in the quarter's first 31 seconds of action on their way to building a nine-point lead to the 7:12 mark of the first half. Consecutive layups from freshman forward Alyssa Hamilton and senior guard Shana Holmes brought the deficit back to five as the Lady Muleriders battled inside.

The Golden Sun lead would get as high as 14 points late in the second quarter, before junior guard Faith Rolen drove inside for a bucket and then connected on two free throw attempts to bring SAU to within 10 points at the intermission, 51-41. In the first half, Tech grabbed 11 offensive rebounds and produced a 6 margin in second chance points.

Southern Arkansas outscored Arkansas Tech 23-18 in the third quarter as they trailed by just five heading into the final ten minutes of play. Down 14, Holmes scored on a fast break opportunity and senior forward Shunta Nevitt followed with a pair of free throws to cut the ATU lead to 10. Caroline Ficher, who scored the last seven SAU points in the third, knocked down a triple try at the third quarter horn to ignite the Southern Arkansas bench as several Lady Muleriders battled through the second half despite playing with four fouls.

ATU would take back the momentum as they escaped a potential SAU run, by stacking a dozen points onto that five-point advantage as they led by 17 with 3:25 left to play. With four fouls, Bryant didn't shy away as a running jumper cut the deficit to 11 as the Lady Muleriders continued to go blow for blow with the Golden Suns, before free throws put the game away late.

Bryant's 27 points came on 11-of-16 shooting and she added five rebounds and a steal. Tucker and Ficher finished with a dozen points apiece and Holmes dropped ten points and added seven assists. Nevitt finished with a team-high eight rebounds. SAU's 20 bench points came from five players as Hamilton led with eight, while Rolen added four. Senior Destavia Davis and freshman Jaida Harden added three and Jasmyn Eckerman finished with two points.