By Holly Weber, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn.—The Tennessee Tech women's basketball team (10-16, 7-6 OVC) will look to climb the OVC rankings this weekend when they hit the road to take on league-opponent Jacksonville State (11-14, 4-9 OVC) in a 4:30 p.m. contest at the Pete Mathews Coliseum.
When the Golden Eagles and Gamecocks first faced-off this season, Tech topped JSU 56-54 in Eblen Center. In the contest, Yaktavia "Shug" Hickson dropped a game-high 14 points, connecting on six-of-eight from the field. Teammate Hannah Goolsby tallied 10 points for the Golden Eagles, while Kandace "Tip" Newry corralled a career-best 11 rebounds. Tyler Phelion and Tasha Magruder each recorded 13 points for the Gamecocks, while Magruder added nine rebounds to their efforts.
As a team, the Golden Eagles shot 39.6 percent from the field, 11.1 percent from the three-point range, and 56.5 percent from the free throw line while the Gamecocks shot 35.1 percent from the floor, 6.7 percent from downtown, and 56.5 percent from the charity stripe. Jacksonville State outrebound Tech by a 43-38, however, the Golden Eagles allowed just 14 turnovers to the Gamecocks' 19.
Hickson leads the Golden Eagles averaging 17.2 points per game, which marks her third amongst Ohio Valley Conference opponents. Hickson shoots 43.2 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from the three-point range, and 84.4 percent from the free throw line. Her 84.4 FT% ranks her second amongst OVC opponents. She averages 4.1 rebounds per game while totaling 42 assists and 26 steals thus far this season.
Senior Treyvonna "Trey" Brooks is another key player on the Tech lineup. Brooks is the Golden Eagle's leader off the glass averaging 6.7 boards per game. She also stands as the Purple and Gold's second leader in scoring averaging 11 points per game. She shoots a team-best 50.6 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from downtown, and 62.2 percent from the charity stripe. In the OVC, Brooks finds herself ranked sixth in field goal percentage, 11th in rebounds, ninth in blocked shots (1.3 per game), and sixth in offensive boards (2.7 per game). Brooks rounds out her all-around performance this season totaling 47 assists and 31 steals thus far.
Senior Hannah Goolsby recently made her mark in the Tech record books. Goolsby became the 29th Golden Eagle women's basketball player to join the 1,000-point club. Goolsby's 15 points in Tech's most recent contest versus Belmont pushed her over the mark and brought her career-point total to 1,013. Goolsby is also the Golden Eagle's third leading scorer this season averaging 8.7 points per game. She shoots 30.6 percent from the floor, 32.5 percent from beyond the arc, and 76.6 percent from the free throw line. Goolsby averages 4.2 rebounds per contest, while totaling 50 assists and 24 steals thus far this season.
Briana Benson leads Jacksonville State this season averaging 11.2 points per game. Benson shoots 41 percent from the floor, 36.2 percent from the three-point range, and 88.9 percent from the charity stripe. She averages 5.1 boards per game (third best mark on the squad), while tallying 48 assists and 30 steals (team-high) thus far this year.
Two other Gamecocks find themselves averaging double-figures this season: Lacey Buchanon with 10.6 ppg and Tyler Phelion with 10.2 ppg.
Phelion is JSU's leader off the glass with 7.2 boards per game. She is also the Gamecocks leader in blocks with 38 thus far this season.
Buchanon is JSU's leader in assists with 70 on the season. She also averages 2.3 rebounds per game.
As a team, the Golden Eagles shoot 39.7 percent from the field, 30.8 percent from beyond the arc, and 71.2 percent from the free throw line while the Gamecocks shoot 39.5 percent from the floor, 31 percent from downtown, and 64.4 percent from the charity stripe on the season. Tech averages 37 rebounds and 17.2 turnovers per contest to JSU's 39.2 boards and 16 turnovers per game.
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
