BOX SCORE || BARTLESVILLE, Okla. – Led by GAC Newcomer of the Year Fatima Adams, Arkansas Tech earned a spot in the Great American Conference Women’s Basketball Championship title game with a 68-62 win against Southeastern Oklahoma State on Saturday from the Bruin Fieldhouse.
Adams totaled 22 points and 12 rebounds for the Golden Suns (23-5). She added five assists. Through the opening two games of the tournament, she has averaged 28.5 points on 50 percent shooting and has grabbed 9.5 rebounds in wins against Henderson State and Southeastern Oklahoma State.
In the first GAC Women’s Championship semifinal matchup to feature a pair of 20-win teams, Arkansas Tech shot 56.7 percent from the floor and took a 38-25 lead into halftime. Katrina Hayden dished out five assists and did not commit a turnover in the opening 20 minutes. Adams helped the Golden Suns produce a 20-8 advantage on points in the paint.
Faced with a deficit as large as 15 on multiple occasions in the second half, the Savage Storm (20-10) rallied and pulled to within four points twice before succumbing at the end. Cheree Kiser came off the Savage Storm bench and scored 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting in only 18 minutes of action. As a team, Southeastern’s reserves outscored Arkansas Tech’s by a 34-14 margin.
The Golden Suns advance to their second Women’s Championship title game. Arkansas Tech will face the winner of Harding and Arkansas-Monticello at 1 PM on Sunday on GACSportsNetwork.com. The Golden Suns and Lady Bisons split during the regular season - each won on their home floors - while they swept their series with the Cotton Blossoms.