Tweet #theGAC  SHAWNEE, Okla. – Arkansas Tech scored its second upset of the 2022 Great American Conference Women’s Basketball Championships as the seventh-seeded Golden Suns defeated third-seeded Harding, 68-65, in Saturday’s second semifinal from FireLake Arena.
 
The Golden Suns (16-12) overcame a nine-point second-half deficit to reach the final of the GAC Championships for the seventh time in 11 seasons. The trio of Kaley Shipman, Jayana Sanders and Nikki Metcalfe scored 33 of Tech’s 43 second-half points.
 
A Shipman jumper early in the fourth quarter gave the Golden Suns their first lead, 52-50, since 23-22. With Harding (19-10) leading 57-54, Tech scored 12 of the next 15 points to seize control of the contest. Sanders made a turn-around jump shot with a minute remaining to give them a two-possession lead.
 
Harding’s Sage Hawley recorded a double-double, her 17^th of the season, as she scored a game-high 21 points and grabbed 11 rebounds.
 
Arkansas Tech will take on top-seeded Southwestern Oklahoma State in Sunday’s 3:30 p.m. final. The Golden Suns dropped both regular-season meetings with the Bulldogs. Tech and SWOSU have met in three prior GAC title games. The Golden Suns won in 2013 and 2016. The Lady Bulldogs claimed the title in 2019.