By Jocelyn VerVelde, TTU Sports Information Coordinator
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – It is Ohio Valley Conference time for the Tennessee Tech women's basketball team, which is looking to use lessons learned in non-conference play towards success in the OVC games.
The Golden Eagles (4-10, 1-0) head to Belmont (4-11, 1-1) on Saturday for a 2 p.m. showdown. Tennessee Tech leads the all-time series, 26-14. The Golden Eagles have won the last four meetings between the programs, including a win in the 2013 OVC Tournament Semifinals.
The Golden Eagles, who went 3-10 in non-conference games, gained experience throughout those 13 games as they played various opponents from multiple conferences, including Southeastern Conference opponents, Sunbelt, Conference USA, the Horizon League, among others.
Most recently, Tech is looking to rebound from an 84-53 loss to long-time foe Middle Tennessee on Thursday night. Junior Diamond Henderson led the Golden Eagles with 21 points, and was aided in scoring by freshman Catherine Taylor, who added 10 points.
Henderson is leading the Golden Eagle offense heading back into OVC play averaging 17.6 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 2.4 assists. Junior T'Keyah Williams is the team's leading rebounder, grabbing 6.6 boards a game, but also adding 9.8 points as well.
The Golden Eagles already have one OVC win under their belts as they took down Jacksonville State, 72-67, behind a well-balanced and disciplined offense that only committed eight turnovers.
Belmont enters the faceoff 1-1 in conference play, losing to SIUE on the road in its first OVC game of the 2013-14 season, and then rebounded to beat Southeast Missouri in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Junior Jordyn Luffman and senior Molly Ernst lead the Bruins in scoring, averaging 14.3 and 10.0 points per contest, respectively. Luffman also leads the team in rebounds, pulling down 7.2 per outing.
The 2 p.m. game is part of a doubleheader with the men's teams. The contest can be seen live on the OVC Digital Network. Fans can also listen to Roger Ealey on the play-by-play call on 106.1 FM The Eagle.
