COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech women's basketball team returns home for the first of three straight in the Eblen Center as they host Murray State on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. CST.
The contest marks the third straight doubleheader to start OVC play for the team as the men's squad will also host the Racers at 7:30 p.m. Fans may purchase their tickets online (TTUsports.com), in person at the Athletics Ticket Office in Eblen Center, or on the telephone (931-372-3940). Thursday night's doubleheader is Jackson and Overton County Night. Fans from both counties can get tickets for just $1.
Both contests represent the first two to be televised locally by WCTE TV this season, the 33rd straight year the station has worked with the Golden Eagles in the Eblen Center. In addition to coverage by WCTE TV, all of Tech's home games will be streamed live on the OVC Digital Network, with production by the Golden Eagle Sports Network.
Tennessee Tech (3-12, 0-2) vs. Murray State (5-9, 0-1)
Thursday, Jan. 8, 2015
5:30 p.m. CST
Eblen Center (9,250) – Cookeville, Tenn.
The Broadcasts
TV: WCTE (Buddy Pearson & Christina Widdifield)
Radio: 106.1 The Eagle (Roger Ealey)
Webcast: Golden Eagle Sports Network on the OVC Digital Network (Dylan Vazzano)
SETTING THE STAGE
This is the 75th match up between the Murray State Racers and the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles. Tech holds 59-15 advantages over the Racers dating back to 1970.
Last season, the Golden Eagles went to Murray, Ky., and came home with a 81-65 victory. Former Golden Eagles, Molly Heady and Diamond Henderson each scored in the double figures, 11 and 17 points, respectively, while Hannah Goolsby scored 15 points and grabbed four boards. Candace Parson narrowly missed a double-double grabbing 10 boards and eight points, while Shunice Tionne Herron's career-high in points came against the Racers as she added nine.
Four players for the Racers scored in the double figures, but only one player remains and that is guard Julia Fox, who scored 10 points against the Golden Eagles.
Last week, Murray State defeated Brescia (118-50) before falling to Morehead State (64-63). The 118 points were a program high and marked the third 100-point plus game this season for the Racers. In only 11 minutes versus Brescia, junior Bianca Babic went 4-for-7 from beyond the arc to give her 14 points for the game. She also hit four three-pointers against Morehead State for 12 points. Sophomore Kyra Gulledge scored 14 points and brought down a pair of rebounds versus Brescia. She finished the week with 18 points and four rebounds. Freshman Ke'Shunan James averaged 12.5 points over the two games. She also had 10 rebounds, eight assists and seven steals last week.
The Racers are currently being led by Keiona Kirby and Ke'Shunan James. Kirby is averaging 15.9 points and 5.5 rebounds, while James adds 15 points and 6.1 boards. Olivia Cunningham follows with 10.9 points, 3.0 boards, and a team-high 50 assists on the season.
Tennessee Tech fell at Eastern Illinois and SIUE to open up OVC play last week. Senior Candace Parson had 12 points, six rebounds and three steals versus the Panthers. She followed that up with a team-high 24 points to go with six boards against the Cougars. Junior Samaria Howard scored a career-best 28 points to go with a team-high seven rebounds versus SIUE. She also had 12 points, three rebounds and one assist at Eastern Illinois.
Howard is averaging a team-high 14.2 points and adding 5.1 rebounds. Following her is Parson, who is averaging 12 points and a team-best 5.7 boards on the season.
