20-Wild Card

 

It been a long time coming. The Southern Arkansas women have not defeated the Golden Suns of Arkansas Tech since the 2019-2020 campaign – 10 games -- and the streak finally ended Saturday, December 14, 2024.

Head Coach Darrick Matthews and the Muleriders overcame the Suns in Great American Conference play, 81-70.

The 11-point final lead was the first time since 2005-2006 that Southern Arkansas beat Arkansas Tech by double-digit figures.

Both squads accounted for one lead apiece. The Golden Suns acquired theirs' just 18 seconds into the game. The Muleriders obtained the lead and never lost it for the next 38 minutes and 24 seconds after having outscored ATU in the first period 18-10. For the next three periods, the groups tied 15-15, 21-21, and then SAU outscored Tech by just three in the fourth (27-24).

With about 2:14 left in the first period, the Muleriders' lead was just three points until a corner three by Riley Stanford and a layup by Addy Tremie extended the lead to eight, which was only cut down to five points while the lead grew to as much as 15 points.

Leading the game in scoring and recording a career-high, while at an NCAA program, was Crystal Ortiz as the senior from Sallisaw, Oklahoma accounted for 27 points after making 8-17 from the field, 5-8 from three-point range, and 6-8 from the charity stripe along with four rebounds.

For the first time in her NCAA career, grad student Addy Tremie logged a double-double as the native of Sulphur, LA recorded 10 rebounds and 12 points after making 4-11 from the field (one three) and was 3-4 for free throws. Her 10 boards against Arkansas Tech set a career-high for Tremie just a week after accounting for her career-high of nine rebounds.

Nearly recording another double-double was Elena Lijo-Rodriguez, who faced her former team at Arkansas Tech. The Spain native was 4-8 on the floor and 2-2 from the charity stripe scoring ten points along with her eight rebounds. The junior was not just making buckets and acquiring boards as she was also preventing them with three blocks and three steals, which marks back-to-back games with three blocks and a career-high for steals.

Southern Arkansas wins back-to-back contest and advances to 7-3 overall with a 2-2 record in the GAC. The Muleriders continue league play this coming Thursday at Henderson State for the group's final outing before the Christmas break.