By: Holly Weber, TTU Sports Information Coordinator 

COOKEVILLE, Tenn.—After two exhibition victories, the Tennessee Tech women's basketball team (0-0, 0-0 OVC) is ready to take center court on Saturday with their regular season opener against Arkansas State (0-0) at 5:30 p.m. 

The Red Wolves and Golden Eagles have met three times before, however, this is the first time that the two teams have opened their regular season against each other. Tech and Arkansas State first met in the 1982-83 season, when the Golden Eagles topped the Red Wolves 71-47. In their next two meetings, however, Arkansas State saw victory, with their last meeting being in the 2013-14 season (Red Wolves winning 90-75). 

This season brings a lot of new faces to the Golden Eagle squad. Tech welcomes six new players to the Purple and Gold including juniors Takisha Jordan, Lindsey Jennings, Treyvonna Brooks, and Alliyah Smith along with freshmen Anacia Wilkinson and Brittany Cooper. 

Returning to the Golden Eagle roster are seniors Samaria Howard, Tia Nicholson and Mariah Dean; juniors Kandace Newry and Hannah Goolsby; and sophomores Yaktavia Hickson and Asia Harper. 

Last season, Howard was the key player on the Tech team. Howard posted 15.6 points per game, while shooting 40.2-percent from the field and 81.2-percent from the line. She was named to the 2014-15 OVC All-Newcomer team, as well as to the All-OVC second team. This season, Howard was placed amongst the 2015-16 OVC Preseason All-OVC team and is expected to be a top performer in the conference. 

Sharpshooter Goolsby also returns to the Golden Eagle team. Last season, Goolsby averaged 9.2 points per game and hit a team-high 39 three-point field goals.

During Tech's two exhibition games this season, Howard gathered 30 points, hitting 12-of-32 from the field and connecting on 6-6 from the line. Goolsby added 16 points in the two games, putting up 5-of-8 free throws and going 3-7 from the three-point range. 

Expected to lead the Red Wolves is Aundrea Gamble. Last season, Gamble became the first Arkansas State player to win the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year title two-years in a row, as well as the only player in school history to be named a WBCA All-America Team. At the end of the season, Gamble finished averaging 18 points, 4.3 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game. Another key player on the Red Wolves team will be senior, Khadi Brown-Haywood. Last year, Haywood was a 2014-15 All-Sun Belt conference third team selection and ranked second on the team in both points per game (11.5) and steals (46). Throughout her career, Haywood averages 43.2-percent from the field and 77.4-percent from the line. 

In exhibition play for Arkansas State, Gamble totaled 34 points over their two games, while hitting 20-30 on the boards. Haywood connected on 13-24 field goals, while going 5-8 at the line.

Season and game tickets can be purchased by visiting the Athletic Ticket Office in the Eblen Center or by calling (931) 372-3940. Tickets may also be purchased online at TTUsports.com.

You can follow the Tech women's basketball team online on Facebook and on Twitter at @TTUWBB and @TTUGoldenEagles.