Box Score (html)
BARTLESVILLE, Okla. – Arkansas Tech looked the part of the top seed in the Great American Conference Tournament and the No. 15-ranked team in NCAA Division II as they shot 50.7% from the field and hit 12 three-pointers as they defeated SWOSU 106-85 in the tournament championship game.
The game was up-tempo from the get go, but SWOSU had to fight from behind the entire game. After scoring the first basket of the game, the Lady Bulldogs were playing catch up against the Golden Suns and they tied the game twice but were unable to retake the lead. ATU used a 9-0 run late in the first quarter to take a 24-14 lead, but SWOSU battled back to within one in the second half after a
Hailey Tucker three made it 36-35 with 6:43 until halftime.
Two free throws from
Morgan Vogt again made it a one-point game, 43-42, with 3:23 to play in the half, but Tech closed on a 10-4 run and led 53-46 going into the break. SWOSU made runs at ATU in the third and fourth quarters, but never got any closer than six points and the Golden Suns had an advantage of at least 11 points the entire fourth quarter.
SWOSU was led by the GAC Freshman of the Year,
Hailey Tucker, who capped off her first collegiate tournament in her hometown with 21 points on 8-for-15 shooting. For her efforts, Tucker and fellow freshman
Hayden Priddy were named to the All-GAC Tournament team at the conclusion of the event.
Morgan Vogt set a new postseason career high for the second straight game, scoring 18 points while dishing out four assists while
Janae Coffee and
Jennifer Williams each had 17 points in their final game with the Lady Bulldogs. Williams also had a game-high six assists and Coffee pulled down a team-best eight rebounds.
"I'm really proud of my team's efforts, not only tonight but this entire season," SWOSU Head Coach
Kelsi Musick said. "Our seniors gave us great leadership and our freshman really stepped up down the stretch this season, so I'm excited for the future of our program."
SWOSU concludes their third 20-win season under the direction of Musick with a 20-11 record.
