Alva Review-Courier -

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Senior Cheyenne North stuffed the stat sheet, scoring 11 points, blocking nine shots and dishing out eight assists but the No. 4 seed Arkansas Tech Golden Suns (26-4) season came to an end as they fell to fifth-seeded Northern State (26-5) by a final score of 76-65 in the first round of the NCAA Division II Central Region Tournament being played at the Elmen Center in Sioux Falls, S.D. Friday night.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Arkansas Tech scored the first points of the game on a jumper by North to claim a 2-0 lead. The Golden Suns forced four turnovers in the opening three minutes to spark a 7-0 run, Tech led 9-2 with 6:53 remaining in the first quarter.

Northern State scored four straight point to trim the lead to three points. Jayana Sanders came off the bench for Tech and scored six straight points, draining a three and converting a 3-point play to give Tech a nine-point advantage (15-6).

The Wolves chipped into the Suns lead and were able to cut it down to four at 17-13 with 3:30 to go in the first quarter.

Tech scored four of the last five points of the quarter to take a 21-14 lead going into the second quarter.

North gave the Suns their first double digit lead (28-18) after hitting a contested 3-pointer from the top of the key. Sanders scored a fast break layup to make it a 12-point advantage (30-18) at the 7:45 minute mark.

The Golden Suns opened up a 15-point lead, their largest lead of the first half, after Ryann Goodsell hit a jumper (36-21).

Northern State answered with an 8-1 run to cut the lead to nine points (37-29) with 2:44 remaining in the first half.

Both teams traded baskets over the final two minutes of the first half, Tech held a nine-point advantage (43-34) going into the break.

The Suns forced ten turnovers and North blocked five shots in the first half, while the Wolves held a 20-14 advantage in rebounding.

The Wolves used a 7-3 run in the opening minutes of the third quarter to pull to within five (46-41) with 6:38 remaining.

Jill Conrad cut the Suns lead to three points after hitting a jumper at the 5:23 minute mark (48-45).

Ke'Vonshaye Stackhouse made it a five-point game after driving through the lane and connecting on an off-balance floater to put the score at 52-47 with 4:07 remaining in the third quarter.

Jessi Marti hit Northern State's first 3-pointer of the second half to trim the Suns lead to two points (52-50) then Conrad hit a layup to knot the game up at 52-52 at the 2:14 minute mark.

North answered for Tech, scoring the next four points to give the Suns a 56-52 lead with 1:40 remaining in the third quarter.

Kylie Ladd scored the last points of the quarter, draining a 15-foot jumper to give Tech a four-point advantage (58-54) going into the fourth.

After hitting a pair of free throws, Northern State cut the lead to one point with 8:13 remaining in regulation.

Northern State took its first lead of the game (63-61) after Miranda Ristau converted on a 3-point play with 5:53 left in the game.

The Wolves ended the game on an 11-3 run, claiming a 76-65 win.

NOTABLES

The Golden Suns shot just 15-percent (3-of-20) from the floor in the fourth quarter, which allowed for Northern State to put an 18-2 run together to come back and defeat Tech.

Northern State outshot Tech 45.6 percent to 34.8 percent. The Wolves also out rebounded the Suns 48-32 and went 22-26 from the free throw line while Tech went 13-20.

In her final game as a Golden Sun, North finished with 11 points, nine blocks, eight assists and four rebounds.

Williams ended her season with a team-high 17 points and grabbed three rebounds. Ladd scored 11 points and Sanders added 12 points.

Arkansas Tech ends the season with a 26-4 record and closed it out with its fourth consecutive 20-plus-win season and fourth straight trip to the NCAA Central Region Tournament.