RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. — Challenged with another close contest in Arkansas, Southern Nazarene battled until the final buzzer as they picked up the three-point win over Arkansas Tech.
It was a tough offensive showing for the Storm (16-8, 11-6 GAC) as they only shot 37 percent from the field while knocking down just two of their nine three-point attempts. The Golden Suns didn't excite on offensive either, finishing just under 40 percent from the outside while getting zero of their nine three-point attempts to fall true.
The difference in what was a tight game all around was the Storm's fourth quarter onslaught which led to Arkansas Tech's defeat in the final few seconds. SNU put up 22 points to Tech's 16 that quarter, shooting well over 70 percent.
SNU held the first lead of the contest, putting up 16 on Tech to kick things off as the Golden Suns trailed close behind with 12.
Things started to look rough for the Storm moving into the second period as they were scoreless the first two and a half minutes of play. Shooting was dismal as SNU finished just eight percent from the field that quarter, scoring only four points to give Tech the lead at the half (20-24).
Fouls were being handed out every which way and the Storm were fighting to get shots to fall. Midway through, the Golden Suns held a seven-point lead. But that didn't last long, as a couple of free-throws combined with Jaycee Soap's triple gave SNU a boost, trailing Tech by just 4 (37-41) moving into the final ten.
Clawing their way back to the top, SNU managed to make it a one-point game most of the way through. With just under three minutes left, Emily Monghan's layup tied the game at 51 a piece.
The Storm carved up a six-point lead off of a pair of Cassandra Awatt free throws with just 47 seconds left on the clock. Tech fought back with a few buckets of their own, and soon the lead was cut to two (58-56) with 19 seconds left on the board.
Emily Monaghan drained of her foul shots to make it a one-possession game at 59-56. Tech had two chances at the three only to miss them both. The Storm secured the last board of the contest, walking out of Russellville clinching the three-point win over the Golden Suns.
Awatt tallied her ninth double-double with her 15 points ad 14 rebounds, adding two steals her stat line as well.
Monaghan was close to her first career double-double, as she put up 14 points combined with nine boards and two steals.
Abby Niehues put up 12 points that afternoon while grabbing eight boards, four blocks, and three steals.
The Storm will head to Shawnee for a Valentine's Day special against Oklahoma Baptist Monday, February 14th with tip off set for 5:30 p.m.
