MOREHEAD, Ky. - Tennessee Tech owned the boards against Morehead
State Thursday night, claiming a commanding 47-32 edge in
rebounds.
The host Eagle women, however, had a bigger number where it counts
- on the scoreboard - and chalked up a 64-52 victory over the
Golden Eagles in front of 837 fans at MSU's Johnson Arena.
Tech survived a scoreless drought of nearly 10 minutes in the first
half, but Morehead State held the Golden Eagles without a basket
for more than 12 minutes in the second half to gain an advantage
that it never gave up.
Down 40-38, the Eagles got a couple of 3-pointers from Chynna
Bozeman and went on top 47-40. Tech pulled to within four, 50-46,
with 4:22 remaining, but Morehead State scored the next 13 points
for a 63-46 lead.
Blair Bowens hit a couple of 3-pointers in the final minute for
Tech to slice the final difference to 12 points. Her first came
with 33 seconds to play, Tech's first field goal in more than 12
minutes.
Bozeman scored 26 points, hitting 6-for-7 from 3-point range to
lead the Eagles (9-8/3-2 OVC). Brittany Pittman, who leads the
nation in blocked shots, had nine points, five rebounds and nine
blocks. Tiffanie Stephens and Ashley Martin also scored nine each
for MSU.
Tech (3-12/1-3 OVC) had three players in double figures, as both
Bowens and Jasmine White had 15 points and eight rebounds. Vivian
Nwosu had a double-double with 10 points and a career-best 12
rebounds.
Tech's inside game lifted the Golden Eagles to an early 6-0 lead
before Morehead tied the contest at 9-9. Tech came back with a 10-2
run, including 3-pointers by Bowens and freshman Kelleshia Cook,
putting the Golden Eagles on top, 19-11.
Tech's lead was still seven points, at 21-14, after White's layup
at the 10:02 mark.
That's when things came to a standstill for the Golden Eagle
offense. Tech didn't manage another point for the next 9:29, before
Bowens hit a 3-pointer with 33 seconds to play.
During that stretch, the Tech defense limited Morehead State to
just eight points and a 22-21 lead, so when Bowens drained her
3-pointer, it gave the Golden Eagles a 24-22 lead.
A 3-pointer by Bozeman with 13 seconds left made it 25-24 at the
half in favor of the home team.
The score was tied five times during the first six minutes of the
second period, and Tech went up 40-38, with 11:44 to play, when
Lyons scored two free throws.
Another 3-pointer from Bozeman with 10:48 to play bumped Morehead
State back on top, and the Eagles never trailed after that.
Tech shot 28.1 percent for the game, going 16-for-57 overall from
the field. That included 50 percent shooting from long range
(8-for-16). The Golden Eagles were 12-for-14 for 86 percent at the
free throw line.
Morehead State shot 41.7 percent for the game, going 20-for-48. The
Eagles were 9-for-20 for 45 percent from long range, and went
15-for-28 for 53.6 percent at the free throw line.
Tech finishes up its brief road trip into Kentucky with a game at
Eastern Kentucky Saturday afternoon. Tipoff is at 3 p.m. CST.