By Holly Weber, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn.—The Tennessee Tech women's basketball team (5-12, 1-3 OVC) closes out its three-game road stretch at UT Martin (8-7, 1-1 OVC) on Jan. 13.
The Skyhawks return home after being on the road for five-straight games to host the Golden Eagles with an 11 a.m. tip-off.
The Golden Eagles are currently 1-3 in conference, opening OVC play with a 81-74 win over Eastern Illinois and then dropping the next three games to SIUE, Murray State, and Austin Peay.
UT Martin holds a 1-1 conference mark, most recently defeating Morehead State 85-67, while dropping their OVC opener at Eastern Kentucky 61-70.
Tech leads the series over UT Martin 44-21; however, the Skyhawks most recently saw victory over the Golden Eagles defeating them in the 2014-15 season 79-59.
Samaria Howard continues to prove why she is a powerful force on the Tech team. Howard has scored in double-figures for all of the Golden Eagle's 17 games thus far this season, including nine, 20+ games. Howard averages 19.9 points and 5.2 boards per game. She shoots 39.1 percent from the floor, 28.1 percent from the 3-point range, and 75.6 percent from the line. Howard's 19.9 points per game rank her 26th in the NCAA, while her 339 total points on the season rank her 9th. Her 96 made free throws also rank her 9th nationally while her 117 made field goals rank her 21st.
Sophomore guard, Yaktavia Hickson is beginning to serve as a pivotal player on Tech's team. Hickson averages 6.9 points and 1.9 rebounds per game. She shoots 34.9 percent from the field, 24.6 percent from beyond the arc, and 83.3 percent from the line. In Hickson's last showing at Austin Peay she was Tech's second leading scorer with 15 points and dished out 4 assists and grabbed 2 rebounds.
As a team, the Golden Eagles average 60.6 points and 35.8 boards per game. Tech shoots 38.2 percent from the field, 28.2 percent from the 3-point range, and 68.7 percent from the line, while giving up19 turnovers per game.
UT Martin averages 68.3 points and 31.1 rebounds per game. The Skyhawks shoot 42.7 percent from the floor, 36.8 percent from the 3-point range, and 68.7 percent from the line, while giving up 14.1 turnovers per game.
DaiJia Ruffin who averages 14.6 points and 5.7 boards per game leads UT Martin. Ruffin shoots 48 percent from the field, 37.5 percent from beyond the arc, and 74.6 percent from the line.
Another player to watch on the Skyhawk's team is Haley Howard. Howard averages 12.8 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. She shoots 46 percent from the floor, 36 percent from the 3-point range, and 90.2 percent from the line.
You can follow the Golden Eagles online on Facebook and on Twitter at @TTUWBB and @TTUGoldenEagles.
