COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech women's basketball team returns home for its final non-conference game of the season on Sunday afternoon, as they host Middle Tennessee State at 2 p.m. CST.
Tech will be looking to build off a 62-56 win over Morgan State at the Chattanooga Christmas Classic.
The Golden Eagles finished the game with a season-high 15 assists, and saw eight different players score. The Golden Eagles also outrebounded the Bears, 40-29, including 13 offensive boards, which Tech converted into 13 second-chance points.
Three different Golden Eagles scored 12 points. Senior Candace Parson stuffed the stat sheet, adding six rebounds, a career-high four assists, a career-high three blocks, and career-high three steals to her 12 points. Hickson, a freshman from Stone Mountain, Ga., grabbed a career-high six rebounds and added three assists, along with 12 points. Sophomore Cat Taylor added three rebounds and an assist to her 12 points. Taylor has now scored in double-figures each of the last three games.
Sunday's game versus the Blue Raiders is Church Bulletin Day, and any fan that brings in a bulletin can get into the game for only $1.
The Broadcasts
Radio: 106.1 FM - The Eagle – Roger Ealey
Webcast: OVC Digital Network – Dylan Vazzano
Live Stats: TTUSports.com
SETTING THE STAGE
This is the 91st meeting between these two squads, dating back to the 1970-71. Tech holds a 50-40 advantage, however MTSU holds a nine-game winning streak, including last season's 84-53 loss in Murfreesboro.
In last season's loss, Middle Tennessee held a nine point lead at halftime before outscoring TTU 48-26 in the second stanza to close out the non-conference season with an 11-3 mark. The Raiders shot 47.5 percent (28-of-59) from the field, holding TTU to 38.9 percent (21-of-54) shooting. TTU was out-rebounded 48-to-27 in the loss.
Former Golden Eagle Diamond Henderson scored 13 straight in the second half, finishing with a team-high 21 points. Joining her with double-digits was Catherine Taylor, who knocked down 10 in the first half.
This season, MTSU has opened up with a 5-4 record, 1-3 on the road. Olivia Jones leads the way with 18.2 points per game, adding 9.2 boards. Jones is averaging a team-high 36.6 minutes per game and is the only player to start all nine games. Cheyenne Parker is averaging 16.2 points, and 8.3 rebounds, but has only played in six games, as she missed the first three games of the season.
The Blue Raiders are averaging 67 points per game, while forcing opponents into 21.4 turnovers. However, MTSU is only shooting 64-percent from the charity stripe in 200 attempts.
Tech is led by junior guard Samaria Howard who is averaging a team-high 13.3 points, and grabbing an impressive 5.3 rebounds. Senior Candace Parson is averaging is adding 9.9 points per game, and a team-high 5.6 rebounds.
As a team, the Golden Eagles are averaging 60.6 points, and force its opponents into 18.8 turnovers per game. Tech also grabs 34.4 rebounds, and adds 3.9 blocks per game.
