COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – This is the time of year that college students look forward to, and that time is Christmas Break. College kids have just survived finals, and they get time off from their studies to go see family and friends after spending the semester away.
The Tennessee Tech women's basketball team returned home for its reunion with family and friends on Tuesday night for just the second home game of the season, and first home game in over half a month. And the home atmosphere paid off.
Tech hosted South Alabama in a Christmas break showdown, earning its second win of season over the Jaguars, 70-66.
The Golden Eagles led for a majority of the game, including a 17-point lead with 16:25 left to play in the game.
As the second half went on, the guests slowly gained ground on the Golden Eagles, ever so subtly.
From the 16:25 point, South Alabama guard Breanna Hall, the Jaguars' leading scorer, took the game in to her hands, scoring 14 points, including four three pointers. She helped the Jaguars to bring Tech's lead to just five with 6:41 left to play.
Tech took advantage of the foul trouble the Jaguars found itself in. Tech took 14 trips to the line following the six minute mark, connecting on 11 on of the attempts, to seal the game.
Tech junior Samaria Howard had the best game of her young TTU career on Tuesday night, as she led the Golden Eagles to a win to break the seven-game losing streak. Howard scored a career-high 23 points, but more importantly she connected on 11 of her 13 free throw attempts, six of which came in the final two and a half minutes of the game. Howard's hustle effort was also show as she led the Golden Eagles in rebounding with seven boards. She also added an assist and a block.
Sophomore Hannah Goolsby also was key from the charity stripe, as she went seven of 10. Goolsby shot six free throws in the final minute, connecting on four, to help seal the game. Goolsby finished with 12 points, two rebounds, and assist and a block.
Freshman Yacktavia "Shug" Hickson played a vital role defensively, as she recorded a career-best four steals. Hickson's high pressure defense force the Jaguars into stressful situations that were difference makers in the game. Hickson added 12 points, three rebounds, and two assists to her stat line.
The Jaguars were led by Hall, who scored 24 points adding two boards, two assists and a steal. Taylor Jenkins added 12 points, nine boards, three blocks, and two assists while. Colby Davis added 11 points, four rebounds, an assist and a steal.
Tech was topped in most shooting categories, however they out defended the Jaguars but tallying eight steals to USA's six, and out blocking them nine to six. The Golden Eagles also won the battle at the free throw stripe, shooting 69.7 percent on 23 of 33, while USA shot just 45.5 percent on five of 11.
Tech returns to action on Thursday as it takes the short trip to Nashville to take on Lipscomb in a 6:30 p.m. CST non-conference battle.
