RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. — First-year Head Coach Darrick Matthews and his Southern Arkansas University Muleriders (14-14 | 9-13) stepped into the Tucker Coliseum at Arkansas Tech for the regular season finale against the Golden Suns with plenty on the line. In hope of punching their ticket to the Great American Conference Tournament for the first time in just over a year, the Muleriders did just so as they defeated Arkansas Tech 68-60.
Leading the way for the Muleriders was both Tequaza Chambers and Crystal Ortiz as Chambers led the game in scoring with 21 points and acquired eight rebounds on the night. Ortiz may have not led the Muleriders in scoring, but she was definitely Southern Arkansas' heavy hitter as the senior recorded 20 points with ten rebounds, three steals, two blocks, and her second-straight double-double. Ortiz' double-double marks her second this season.
In the first period, the opening three and a half minutes stayed as tight as it could with six lead changes up until the 6:36 mark. The sixth lead change went in favor of the Muleriders as Qua Chambers claimed the lead with a jumper for the 7-6 score. With a three-pointer from Chloe Wilbanks, the Muleriders gained their largest lead up to that point going up 18-10. A free throw by Tech was the final point scored in the opening period for the 18-11 score.
The Suns came out in the second period firing with a three-pointer made by Madelyn Atkins to reduce the group's deficit to 14-18 until a Chambers jumper to increase the lead back to six up 20-16. After a 3-2 run for the 23-18 score, Tech would score five unanswered to tie the ballgame at 23-23. Then it became a back-and-forth battle for the final five minutes of the second period as the Golden Suns had regained the lead at the 2:40 mark going up 27-29. Chambers would then respond with a made jumper for the tie and with little to no time on the clock she seize the lead with a layup for the intermission score of 31-29.
In the third quarter, up to the 3:46 spot in the period, the two would be separated by as much as seven points as the Muleriders had accounted for a 38-31 lead until the Suns would close the gap to as low as a two point contest, 45-43. After being fouled on a free-throw attempt, Crystal Ortiz went to the charity stripe and knocked down all three attempts for the five point separation. The Golden Suns would only be able to account for a free throw for the remained of the quarter while the Muleriders would tack on seven and go up 55-44 into the fourth period.
The closest Arkansas Tech could bring the game only within five and the Muleriders would add some insurance free throws to finish the game with a 68-60 lead. With the victory, Southern Arkansas claimed its first regular season sweep over Arkansas Tech since the 2004-2005 season and its third sweeping of the Golden Suns all time with the first time coming in the groups' first meeting back in 1976-77.
Players of the Game:
Crystal Ortiz: 20 points, ten rebounds (led game), three steals (led game), two blocks (led team), and her second-straight double-double
Tequaza Chambers: 21 points (led game), eight rebounds, one assist, and 5-5 free throws
Marlee Bright: Seven rebounds, five assists (tied for game lead), two steals, and one block
Elena Lijo-Rodriguez: Seven rebounds
Next Up:
Southern Arkansas has claimed the seventh seed in the Great American Conference Tournament and is scheduled to take on the number-two seed Harding Bisons as the two groups will be the first contest of the bracket with a noon tip-off on Thursday, March 6.
