By Holly Weber, TTU Sports Information Coordinator
COOKEVILLE, Tenn.—The Tennessee Tech women's basketball team (5-13, 1-4 OVC) returns home after a three-game road stretch to host Southeast Missouri (11-7, 4-1 OVC) on Saturday in a 5:30 p.m. contest in Eblen Center.
The Golden Eagles are currently looking to snap a four game losing streak, while Southeast Missouri hits the road after most recently claiming a 61-47 home victory over Jacksonville State.
Tech leads the series over SEMO 31-19, however, the Redhawks last saw victory over the Golden Eagles in a 68-66 overtime win in the 2014-15 season.
Samaria Howard leads Tech, averaging 19.6 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. Howard shoots 39.5 percent from the floor, 27.3 percent from the 3-point range, and 76 percent from the line. She grabbed her first double-double of the season in the Golden Eagle's last showing at UT Martin (14 points and 11 boards). Howard's 19.6 points per game rank her 31st in the NCAA, while her 353 points on the season rank her 8th. Her 98 made free throw rank her 9th nationally and her 123 made field goals rank her 14th.
Senior Mariah Dean has also been making a mark on the Tech squad after returning to the lineup on Dec. 20, after being out with a foot injury. Dean averages 6.3 points and 4.1 boards per game and shoots 51.3 percent from the field.
As a team, the Golden Eagles shoot 38.7 percent from the floor, 28.3 percent from the 3-point range, and 67.9 percent from the line. Tech averages 60.2 points and 35.8 boards per game, while giving up 19.2 turnovers.
SEMO averages 70 points and 43.3 rebounds per game, while giving up 15.5 turnovers. The Redhawks shoot 40 percent from the field, 31 percent from the 3-point range, and 68.7 percent from the line.
Olivia Hackmann leads SEMO averaging 16.7 points and 4.8 boards per game. She shoots 31.6 percent from the floor, 26.7 percent from beyond the arc, and 75 percent from the line.
Deja Jones is the Redhawk's power under the hoop. Jones averages 7.3 boards and 7.3 points per game.
The women's basketball game will open a doubleheader against the Redhawks with the men's contest to follow. The event features some special promotions, including Cumberland County and White County Night, with one-dollar admission available to residents of those two neighboring counties. It is also Youth Basketball Night, with free admission to youth players and coaches, and three-dollar tickets available to family members of the youth players.
For ticket information, visit or call the Athletics Ticket Office in Eblen Center (931-372-3940).
You can follow the Golden Eagles online on Facebook and on Twitter at @TTUWBB and @TTUGoldenEagles.
