By Jocelyn VerVelde, TTU Sports Information Coordinator
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech women’s basketball team continues its adventures on the road as it heads to Winston-Salem, N.C. for a 6 p.m. CT showdown Tuesday with the Wake Forest Demon Deacons.
Tech (1-0) has faced Wake Forest (1-0) just two other times in history, and the series is split 1-1. However, those two games were in the 1996-97 and 1997-98 seasons and the teams have not faced each other since.
Tech is looking to build off of a big season-opening win at Florida International. TTU's guard-heavy offense proved to be too much as Tech won 73-56. Junior guard Samaria Howard put up a team-high 17 points, while sophomore guard Hannah Goolsby added 15, and freshman guard Yaktavia "Shug" Hickson added 12 in her debut.
The Golden Eagles veteran post players had their input as well. Senior T'Keyah Williams added 10 points and five boards, while senior Candace Parson barely missed a double-double with nine points and a team-high 12 boards.
THINGS TO KNOW
Radio: 106.1
FM - The Eagle - Rob Schabert
Webcast: Wake Forest All-Access
Livestats: WakeForestSports.com
HEAD COACH HISTORY
While head coaches Jim Davis and Jen Hoover have never faced each
other in their current positions, they do have a past. While Davis
was the head coach as Clemson, he faced the Demon Deacons in the
1987-1991 seasons when Hoover was the starting post for Wake
Forest. During those four seasons, the record was tied 4-4.
FASTBREAK POINTS
• With the 73-56 win over FIU, TTU is 5-0 in the last five
season openers
• Jim Davis has a career win-record of 533 victories in 27
years of coaching.
• Davis is 174-140 against ACC opponents
• Wake Forest is his first ACC opponent he has faced since
his Clemson days
FRESH FACES
Despite returning 52% of its scoring from last season, look for
Tech's four newcomers to add points and rebounds this season. Three
freshmen and a JUCO transfer should see a lot of court time this
season with a fairly shallow bench.
WHERE WE RANK
Tennessee Tech was selected to finish fourth in the Ohio Valley
Conference with 169 points. The Golden Eagles are in their third
season under veteran head coach Jim Davis.
ROAD WARRIORS
The Golden Eagles open the season with 10 games on the road
compared to four games in Cookeville. Tech will also host Georgia
(11/29), South Alabama (12/16), and MTSU (12/28).
DOUBLE TROUBLE
Last season, the Golden Eagles had eight double-doubles, five of
which came from senior Candace Parson. Returners senior T'Keyah
Williams and junior Mariah Dean each
tallied one, while Kayla Brewer recorded the other.
EXHIBITION EXCURSION
Tech had one exhibition game this preseason as they took on
Tennessee Wesleyan, head coach Jim Davis's alma mater. Tech won
82-46.
Tech's posts proved to be the dominant force, especially senior Candace Parson who finished with 17 points and six rebounds, hitting 6-of-7 from the field. Guards Catherine Taylor and Hannah Goolsby also reached double digits. Taylor had 12 points and five boards while Goolsby added 11 points.
Junior point guard Samaria Howard had eight points, five rebounds and four assists, while freshman Yaktavia 'Shug' Hickson finished with six points. Eleven different players saw action, and every player had at least 11 minutes of play.
SLOW COOKIN'
Over the past 11 years, the month of November has been a slow one.
The Golden Eagles are 25-34 in the month of November:
2014.................................................... 1-0
2013.................................................... 3-4
2012.................................................... 3-3
2011.................................................... 3-5
2010.................................................... 4-0
2009.................................................... 3-4
2008.................................................... 0-5
2007.................................................... 1-4
2006.................................................... 1-4
2005.................................................... 3-1
2004.................................................... 3-1
2003.................................................... 0-3
Total .................................................. 25-34
