GOLDEN SUNS WIN THRILLER OVER HARDING TO CAPTURE GAC CROWN

[Seminole Indian]

BARTLESVILLE, Okla. – Cheyenne North turned in a monster 16-point, nine-block, eight-rebound, six-assist performance, Lyrik Williams turned in 12 points and nine boards, while Jayana Sanders came off the bench to pitch in 10 points as the Arkansas Tech Golden Suns basketball team (26-3) won a 63-62 thriller over Harding (18-15) to capture the 2017-18 Great American Conference championship on Sunday afternoon.

UP NEXT FOR THE GOLDEN SUNS
Arkansas Tech awaits its NCAA tournament selection fate. By virtue of capturing the Great American Conference's automatic bid, the Golden Suns are guaranteed to be a part of the 64-team field. The tournament field and regional locations will be announced Sunday night at 9 p.m. Central at www.ncaa.com.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Harding controlled the opening minutes of the contest, opening up a seven-point (13-6) advantage just over four minutes into the contest.
Tech pulled to within two (14-12) on a Ryann Goodsell layup with 2:41 to go in the opening quarter, but the Lady Bisons stretched the lead back to six (18-12) with 38 seconds remaining and carried that advantage into the second quarter.
Harding grew its lead to eight (26-18) in the opening minutes of the second quarter, but Tech responded with an 11-0 run, capped by a Jayana Sanders transition layup to claim a 29-26 lead with 2:38 remaining until half.
Tech grew its lead to as many as four (34-30) before Harding scored the final bucket of the half, sending the Golden Suns into the break with a two-point (34-32) lead.
The two teams traded baskets in the opening minutes of the third quarter, with Harding pulling to within one (39-38) with 6:12 remaining.
With Harding trailing by one (43-42) with 4:41 remaining in the quarter, Tech scored the game's next eight points to claim a nine-point (51-42) advantage with 2:30 to play.
Harding scored the last five points of the third quarter to pull to within four (51-47) going into the fourth.
Tech held Harding at arm's length through the opening minutes of the fourth quarter, opening up a six-point (61-55) advantage with 4:55 to play.
A Sydney Layrock 3-pointer with 1:56 to play pulled the Lady Bisons to within one (63-62).
Neither team would manage another point down the stretch, with the Golden Suns forcing two critical Harding turnovers.
The Lady Bisons had an opportunity to win the game on the final shot, but the pressure of the Tech defense forced a hurried attempt, allowing the Golden Suns to claim the tournament crown.
NOTABLES
The win was Arkansas Tech's first-ever win over Harding in a Great American Conference tournament game.
Cheyenne North was named the GAC tournament's most outstanding player, while Kylie Ladd and Lyrik Williams were both named to the all-Tournament team.
Tech outshot Harding 41.5 to 37.65 percent from the floor.
Harding held a 41-32 rebounding advantage.
The Golden Suns forced 18 Lady Bisons turnovers while committing only eight.
The Golden Suns blocked 11 shots, two shy of the school record of 13 (vs. Wingate, 3/22/1988).
While Harding held a 12-5 advantage in second-chance points, Tech held a 20-17 advantage in points off turnovers, a 19-12 advantage in bench points, a 38-28 advantage in points in the paint, and a 10-0 advantage in transition points.

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