By Jocelyn VerVelde, Sports Information Coordinator
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech women's basketball team heads to Clemson University on Saturday for a 5 p.m. CST non-conference game.
The Saturday evening showdown is one that holds quite a historically significant meaning for head coach Jim Davis.
Davis made a name for himself a Clemson, as he led the Lady Tigers to 355 victories in 552 games during an 18-year tenure as head coach from 1987-2004. He was the only men's or women's basketball coach in Clemson history to lead Clemson to an ACC Tournament championship, he won the titles in 1995 and 1999. He brought the program into national prominence and left as the winningest coach in Clemson history, regardless of sport. He had 16 post season appearances, 14 NCAA Tournament appearances, 11 Top-25 seasons, 11 seasons with 20-plus wins, four Sweet 16 appearances, one NCAA Elite Eight appearance, 16 All-ACC players, four ACC 50-Year Anniversary Performers, and 100-percent graduation rate of four-year players. All of Davis' success earned him a spot in the Clemson Hall of Fame Class of 2008.
For the first time ever, Davis will coach against the Lady Tigers. It will be Davis's first game coaching in Littlejohn since 2/24/05, a span of 9 years, 9 months, and 11 days, or 3,571 days. Davis is still Clemson's all-time winningest basketball coach, men or women, with a 355-197 record with the Tigers.
Tennessee Tech (1-5) at Clemson (3-5)
Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014
5 p.m. CT
The Broadcasts
TV: none
Radio: 106.1 FM – The Eagle – Dylan Vazzano
Webcast: TigerCast
SETTING THE STAGE
Tennessee Tech and the Clemson Lady Tigers have matched up nine times in the past, with the Lady Tigers holding a 5-4 advantage. The series in Clemson, S.C. stands split at 2-2, while the CU holds an advantage in Cookeville, 3-2.
Both squads enter the game looking to snap losing streaks. Following a season opening win, Tech has dropped five straight, while the Lady Tigers are 0-4 after opening the season 3-1.
Clemson is looking to rebound from a poor offensive outing in its last game, losing at Middle Tennessee, 60-28. The Lady Tigers 28 points was the lowest offensive output in school history.
The Lady Tiger's leading point scorer comes off the bench in Nikki Dixon. Dixon is averaging 13.6 points and 4.5 rebounds. The Lady Tigers have also only had two players start all eight games.
The Golden Eagles are looking to bounce back from an 80-58 loss at the hand of Southern Miss. While USM and TTU went into the half tied, the second half was a completely different story. The Golden Eagles were held to just five baskets, with the last coming with 8:53 left to play.
On the season, junior guard Samaria Howard leads the Golden Eagles offensively, averaging 15.2 points and grabbing a team-high five rebounds a game. Sophomore Hannah Goolsby follows, averaging 9.2 points, while freshman Yaktavia "Shug" Hickson is averaging 8.2.
On the season, Tech is shooting 40.2 percent from the field, while grabbing 32.7 boards.
