By Holly Weber, TTU Sports Information Coordinator
COOKEVILLE, Tenn.—After a four-day road trip and a week of practices, the Tennessee Tech women's basketball team (3-5) returns to action Sunday afternoon against Clemson (2-7) in a 2 p.m. contest in Eblen Center.
The Tigers and Golden Eagles will face each other coming off a 2014-15 season Clemson victory, when the Tigers defeated Tech, 76-61. The Tigers and Golden Eagles first faced each other in the 1979-80 season where Tech won 94-77. Since then, Clemson leads the tight series, 6-4.
Senior Samaria Howard continues to be the leader in the Golden Eagle program. She tops Tech in scoring, averaging 17.6 points per game, ranking her third in the Ohio Valley Conference. Howard owns a 37.3 field goal perentage and 79.2 shooting mark from the free throw line. Howard has been developing her skills from behind the arc, as well, and hit 2-of-4 three-pointers in her last showing against UNC-Greensboro. She has also scored in double figures for each of Tech's eight games thus far this season.
Another key player in the Golden Eagle lineup is sharp-shooter Hannah Goolsby, who is shooting 44.2 percent from 3-point range which ranks her 50th nationally and fifth in the OVC. She also leads Tech in assists, totaling 17 on the season.
The Golden Eagles' production in the paint has come from newcomer Alliyah Smith. Smith captured her first double-double in the game against UNC-Greensboro, with 13 points and 11 boards. She also places as Tech's third-leading scorer, averaging 6.9 points per game, and leads the Golden Eagles in rebounds by averaging 7.5 per game. That ranks her seventh in the OVC.
As a team, Tech is shooting 37.9 percent from the field, 28 percent from beyond the arc, and 67.1 percent from the charity line. In comparison, the Tigers have shot 33.7 percent from the field, 22.4 percent from the 3-point range, and 63.5 percent from the line through their first nine games.
Nelly Perry leads Clemson while currently averaging 14.2 points per game, shooting 31.9 percent from the field, 21.1 percent from 3-point range, and 72.4 percent from the line. Freshman Danielle Edwards has also been doing big things for the Tigers. The 5-foot-7 guard averages 11.3 points per game, hitting 41.3 percent from the field and 85.2 percent from the line.
The ticket office in Eblen Center is open Friday during regular business hours, and will open Sunday prior to the game at 1 p.m., one hour before tipoff.
You can follow the Golden Eagles online on Facebook and on Twitter at @TTUWBB and @TTUGoldenEagles.
