RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – Four Arkansas Tech women's basketball players scored in double figures, led by freshman guard Jacie Higgins' game-high 18 points, as the Golden Suns (4-0) handed Mississippi College (2-1) a 92-45 non-conference loss this Tuesday (Nov. 21) night at Tucker Coliseum. Joining Higgins in double-digit scoring were freshman guards Jayana Sanders and Ke'Vonshaye Stackhouse with 16 and 14 points, respectively. Junior guard Taylor Ely tossed in 12 points as Tech matched its best start since the 2015-16 season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Arkansas Tech accounted for the game's first seven points before Mississippi College reeled off the next nine to take a 9-7 lead at 5:33 of the opening quarter. The Golden Suns proceeded to go on a 9-2 run to close out the first 10 minutes with a 16-11 advantage.
• The Golden Suns wasted little time moving their lead into double figures as sophomore forward Ryann Goodsell's layup 1:25 into the second quarter made it 23-13. The hosts would take their largest lead of the first half at 23 points (41-18) and would proceed to go into halftime leading 42-22. Ke'Vonshaye Stackhouse's 12 points in the opening half lead Tech, which shot 48.6 percent (17-35) while holding MC to 31.0 percent (9-29) from the floor.
• Tech maintained its 20-point plus cushion in the third quarter for the first seven minutes and bumped its lead up to 30 points at 57-27 following a basket from junior forward Lyrik Williams. A three-point play by Jacie Higgins with just under two minutes left in the stanza stretched the Golden Suns' margin to 33 at 60-27 and the quarter would end with Tech having a 61-32 lead.
• Tech, which outscored MC 31-13 in the fourth quarter, would maintained its sizable points advantage throughout the final 10 minutes as the Lady Choctaws could get no closer than 31 points (69-38) with seven minutes to play. A 21-5 scoring spurt by the Golden Suns in the ensuing six minutes put Tech up at by 47 points at 90-43.
NOTABLES
• Arkansas Tech forced a Great American Conference single-game record 42 turnovers, which surpassed the previous league mark of 40 set by the Golden Suns in a 128-39 home win over Crowley's Ridge College on Nov. 10, 2013.
• The Golden Suns' 30 steals is a conference record bettering the 24 total established by Tech in a 107-41 home decision over Ecclesia College in on Nov. 18, 2013.
• Tech's 30 steals represented the 11th time in NCAA Division II history were a team amassed 30 or more steals in a game between two NCAA Division II schools.
• Nine Golden Suns garnered at least two steals in the game with Kylie Ladd compiling a game-high nine. Five other Tech players notched three steals apiece.
• Tech tallied 51 points off the 42 turnovers forced while MC totaled 13 points via 26 Tech miscues.
• Tech concluded the game making good on 47.3 percent (35-74) of its shots from the floor while Mississippi College connected on 28.3 percent (17-60) of its attempts.
• The Golden Suns' bench outscored the Lady Choctaws 47-11 with Jacie Higgins (18 pts.), Taylor Ely (12 pts.), and Lyrik Williams (nine pts.) leading the way
• The last time Tech limited its opponent to 45 points or less was a season ago (Jan. 7) when the Golden Suns claimed a 68-43 home league win against East Central.
• Kylie Ladd's nine steals is a personal career best, eclipsing her five steals in a game on three previous occasions. She recently posted five steals in the Golden Suns' 84-74 conference win at Southeastern Oklahoma State last Saturday (Nov. 18).
• Jayana Sanders not only produced 16 points in 17 minutes for the game, but went 7-8 from the field, 1-2 beyond the arc, and 1-1 at the charity stripe.
• Sophomore forward Ieisha Lacey was the lone Mississippi College player to reach double figure with 16 points and nine rebounds, both team highs.
NEXT UP
• Arkansas Tech is idle until Thursday, Nov. 30, when the Golden Suns resume their current home stand at Tucker Coliseum taking on Southwestern Oklahoma State in a 5:30 p.m. Great American Conference contest. Tech wraps up weekend league action Saturday, Dec. 1, against league foe Northwestern Oklahoma State with a 1 p.m. opening tip off scheduled. Both conference games will be broadcast live on 102.3 FM (KCJC) in Russellville with Sam Strasner calling the action.
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