RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Arkansas Tech Golden Suns open the 2017 half of the season on Thursday, hosting Southeastern Oklahoma State at 5:30 p.m. The Golden Suns will then continue its Great American Conference schedule with a Saturday contest against East Central at 1 p.m. Both games will be played in Tucker Coliseum.
FOLLOW THE ACTION
Live audio, video, and statistics for both games are available at http://www.arkansastechsports.com. The games will be carried live on 102.3-FM (KCJC) in Russellville, with Sam Strasner calling the play-by-play.
ALL-TIME SERIES
Arkansas Tech leads the all-time series against Southeastern, 8-4. The Golden Suns defeated the Savage Storm twice last season, and Southeastern has won just one game in the last seven meetings. Against East Central, Tech holds a 9-5 lead in the all-time series, including a season sweep in two contests last season.
SCOUTING THE SAVAGE STORM
Southeastern Oklahoma State (5-3, 3-1 GAC) will be in action on Thursday for the first time since Dec. 12, 2016, in which the Savage Storm defeated Rogers State, 67-53. Southeastern opened GAC play with three consecutive victories before suffering its first loss to Henderson State on Dec. 3.
The Savage Storm averages just over 73 points per game, while allowing 71.2 points per game. Southeastern ranks second in the GAC in free-throw percentage (.728), and the Storm leads the conference with 43.5 rebounds per game. Olivia Potter leads the Storm offensively, averaging almost 15 points per game. Potter is third in the conference in scoring, third in three-point percentage (.420) and first in three-pointers made per game (3.6). Katie Webb follows with 10.8 points and a team-high 7.1 rebounds per game.
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
East Central (2-6, 1-3 GAC) is coming off just its second win of the season, defeating Ouachita, 73-70, in overtime on Dec. 3. The Tigers opened conference play with losses to Southern Arkansas, Arkansas-Monticello and Henderson State. East Central will travel to Searcy to take on Harding on Thursday, before coming to Russellville on Saturday.
The Tigers have produced the fourth-best defense in the GAC this season, just behind Arkansas Tech. ECU allows 63.6 points per game, but the Tigers average just 54.4 points per game, lowest in the conference. Whitney Stotler averages a team-high 12.6 points per game while Jalyn Jackson leads the GAC in field-goal percentage. Devon Branch follows with 11.9 points.
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN SUNS
Arkansas Tech (7-1, 3-1 GAC) is riding a six-game win streak, the longest in the GAC. The Golden Suns have not played since Dec. 7, in which Tech defeated 11th-ranked Drury in overtime. In the latest Women's Basketball Coaches Association Top-25 Poll, the Golden Suns rank 13th in Division II. Arkansas Tech has been ranked in the top 25 for three consecutive weeks, after starting the season as the only GAC team in the preseason top 25.
The Golden Suns average just over 77 points per game, second in the GAC, while also ranking second in scoring margin (+14.2). Tech is in the top three in the conference in field-goal percentage (.436), field-goal percentage defense (.359), free-throw percentage (.724), three-point percentage (.350) and rebound margin (+8.2). Tech has committed the fifth-fewest turnovers in Division II.
Cheyenne North has taken over as Tech's leading scorer, averaging 21.8 points over her last four games. North also leads the conference in blocks (2.3) and offensive rebounds (3.6). Kelsey McClure averages nearly 14 points per game, totaling at least 10 points in six of Tech's eight games this season. She leads the team and ranks sixth in the conference in field-goal percentage.
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