By Jocelyn VerVelde, Sports Information Coordinator
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech women's basketball team returns home this weekend for an in-state match-up with the University of Memphis Tigers at 7 p.m. CT in the Eblen Center.
This is the 23rd matchup between the two teams with Tech leading the all-time series 15-7. The Tigers got the better of the Golden Eagles in Memphis last season, coming away with a 73-64 victory. Tiger sophomore Ariel Hearn posted a double-double with a game-high 23 points and 10 rebounds, while TTU junior Diamond Henderson topped Tech with 18 points on 6-of-17 shooting.
The 4-5 Tigers come into Cookeville led by Hearn who is averaging 17.3 points, 3.3 boards and 3.0 assists per game. They are also getting eight or more points per game from Mooriah Rowser (9.8), Breigha Wilder-Cochran (9.0), Pa'Sonna Hope (8.6), and Asianna Fuqua-Bey (8.2).
The Golden Eagles (3-4) are undefeated at home so far this season as they defeated Tennessee Wesleyan on Nov. 9 and Valparaiso on Nov. 24. Henderson is leading the Golden Eagles so far this season, averaging 17.9 points per game while shooting an impressive 43.7% from the field. Henderson's 17.9 ppg puts her in eighth in scoring in the Ohio Valley Conference. Tech is also getting offense from freshman Hannah Goolsby (9.6) and junior T'Keyah Williams (8.6).
With school wrapping up for the semester, the Eblen Center will be transformed on Saturday from a commencement hall in the morning back to a gym as the December graduation will be taking place Saturday mid-morning, and 36 Tech athletes will be earning their degrees.
The Eblen Center will be cleaned up and changed in time for the women's game. The game will be available on the OVC Digital Network and will be called by Dylan Vazzano. It will also be available on 106.1 FM The Eagle, and Kevin Bostian will call for the radio broadcast.
