Jocelyn VerVelde, Tennessee Tech Sports Information Coordinator
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The 2014-15 basketball season officially begins Thursday night at Tennessee Tech as the Golden Eagle women's team hosts Tennessee Wesleyan in an exhibition game at 5:30 p.m. CT in Eblen Center. The game will be prior to the Golden Eagle men's game versus Bluefield College.
Tech and Tennessee Wesleyan have squared off five times in as many years. The Golden Eagles have hosted and won each meeting, including last year's 94-41 victory.
The Golden Eagles saw 11 of 12 players who saw the court score in that contest, including five who scored in double-digits. Hannah Goolsby scored 14 points for the Golden Eagles. The Cookeville native pulled down three rebounds, and tallied three steals, as well. Diamond Henderson dropped 12 points and added three steals, three rebounds and two assists. Kayla Brewer and T'Keyah Williams each added 11 points. Williams matched her points with her rebounds by recording her first double-double of the season.
Tennessee Tech was selected to finish fourth in the Ohio Valley Conference in 2014-15 with 169 points. The Golden Eagles are in their third season under veteran head coach Jim Davis. Tech features seven returnees and will be bolstered by five talented newcomers who could have an immediate impact on the lineup. Among the reteunees are Williams (9.2 ppg/5.9 rpg) and center Candace Parson (10.4 ppg/6.4 rpg) in the frontcourt. The backcourt returns Goolsby (9.0 ppg) and Catherine Taylor (4.6 ppg).
Radio: 106.1 FM - The Eagle
Webcast: ovcdigitalnetwork.com
Livestats: TTUSports.com
ALMA MATER MATCHUP
Head coach Jim Davis is facing his alma mater for the third time in as many seasons. Davis graduated from Tennessee Wesleyan in 1970.
FASTBREAK POINTS
• Tech made it to the OVC Tournament championship game for the fourth consecutive season last year, marking its ninth appearance in the OVC tournament in the past 11 years.
• Jim Davis has a career win-record of 532 victories in 27 years of coaching.
• The Golden Eagles went 8-4 at the Eblen Center last season.
• Both T'Keyah Williams and Tionne Herron suffered ACL injuries last season and are suiting up tonight.
FRESH FACES
Despite returning 52 percent of their scoring from last season, look for Tech's four newcomers to add points and rebounds this season.Three freshman and a JUCO transfer should see alot of court time this season with a fairly shallow bench.
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.
SLOW COOKIN'
Over the past 11 years, the month of November has been a slow one. The Golden Eagles are 24-34 in the month of November:
2014.................................................... 0-0
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.............................................. 24-34
TICKETS
Tickets for Thursday's doubleheader, as well as season tickets to watch all 25 regular season home men's and women's games are on sale at the Athletics Ticket Office in Eblen Center or by calling (931) 372-3940.
