By Holly Weber, TTU Sports Information
at Eastern Illinois Game Notes
COOKEVILLE, Tenn.—The Tennessee Tech women's basketball (9-14, 6-4 OVC) will look to continue their winning streak as they travel Charleston, Ill., on Saturday to compete against OVC opponent Eastern Illinois (7-15, 3-7 OVC) in a 1 p.m. contest at the Lantz Arena.
This will be the 41st meeting between the Golden Eagles and Panthers, with the Purple and Gold holding the 25-15 advantage in the series. Tech also last saw success in the 2015-16 season when the Golden Eagles topped EIU 81-74 in Cookeville. This matchup between Tech and Eastern Illinois will also determine who takes the go-ahead game in the series for contests played in Charleston, with both teams currently tied at nine games each.
Yaktavia "Shug" Hickson leads the Golden Eagles averaging 17 points per game, which marks her third amongst Ohio Valley Conference players. Hickson shoots 43.3 percent from the field, 31 percent from the three-point range, and 87.3 percent from the free throw line. She is tied for the second most rebounds on the squad, averaging 4.3 boards per contest, while tallying 38 assists and 26 steals thus far this year.
Senior Treyvonna "Trey" Brooks is another key player on the Golden Eagle lineup. Brooks leads the Purple and Gold off the glass averaging 6.4 rebounds per game. She also stands as Tech's second leading scorer averaging 10.9 points per contest. Brooks shoots a team-best 51.2 percent from the floor (fifth best mark in the OVC), 34.6 percent from downtown, and 64.9 percent from the charity stripe. She has tallied a team second-best 29 blocks on the year, while also dishing out 46 assists and grabbing 27 steals.
Freshman Akia Harris leads the Golden Eagles in assists this season with 95 on thus far. Harris is the third leading scorer on the squad averaging 8.5 points per game. She shoots 31.6 percent from the field, 26.8 percent from beyond the arc, and 67.1 percent from the free throw line. Harris also leads the Golden Eagles in steals grabbing 32 on the year. Amongst OVC opponents, Harris ranks seventh in assists and assist/turnover ratio.
Grace Lennox leads Eastern Illinois this season averaging 15.9 points per game, which also ranks fourth amongst OVC athletes. Lennox shoots 44.8 percent from the floor, 31.5 percent from the three-point range, and 75 percent from the free throw line. She averages 3.9 rebounds per contest while dishing out a team-high 101 assists on the year, which is also the fourth best mark in the OVC.
Erica Brown is the Panthers leader off the glass averaging 8.2 boards per contest to lead not only her team but the entire OVC. Brown also stands as EIU's second leader in scoring with 11.5 points per game. She shoots 3.6 percent from the field, 27.3 percent from downtown, and 68.4 percent from the charity stripe. Brown also leads the Panthers in blocks with 44 on the year, which is the third best mark in the OVC.
Two other EIU players average double-figures this season: Jalisha Smith tallies 10.3 points per game while teammate Allison Van Dyke averages 10.2 points per contest. Van Dyke leads the Panthers in steals with 27 on the year while averaging 4.5 rebounds per game.
As a team, Tech shoots 39.7 percent from the field, 29.5 percent from the three-point range, and 71.3 percent from the charity stripe while Eastern Illinois shoots 42 percent from the floor, 29.9 percent from downtown, and 70.5 percent from the free throw line. The Golden Eagles average 37.3 rebounds and 17.1 turnovers per contest to the Panthers' 37.1 boards and 17.6 turnovers.
You can follow the Golden Eagles online on the TTU Sports and Tennessee Tech Women's Basketball Facebook pages or on Twitter at @TTUGoldenEagles and @TTUWBB.
Photo by Jim Dillon
