By Holly Weber, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn.—The Tennessee Tech women's basketball team (10-18, 7-8 OVC) fell to league-opponent Morehead State (20-8, 10-5 OVC), 81-52, on Senior Night. The win for the Eagles moved the series score to 59-25, however, still in favor of the Golden Eagles. The MSU victory also marked two-wins in a row for the Blue and Gold squad.
Senior Hannah Goolsby had a great showing for Tech, collecting her first career double-double with 16 points and a career-best 10 rebounds in the contest. Teammate Akia Harris recorded 11 points, four assists, three steals and three rebounds in the matchup. Five Morehead State players notched double-figures in the contest: Eriel McKee with 14, KayK Tate and Breuna Jackson with 11, and Miranda Crockett and Brooke Todd with 10.
Morehead State came out ready to battle in the first half, claiming a 23-5 lead in the first quarter and then ending the second leading 42-12. The Eagles shot 47.1 percent from the field, 25 percent from downtown, and 100 percent (2-for-2) from the free throw line while the Golden Eagles shot 25 percent from the floor and 50 percent (1-for-2) from the charity stripe. Morehead State out-rebounded Tech by a 23-14 margin, forcing 13 Golden Eagle turnovers while allowing just eight.
Tech tried hard to recover its deficit in the third quarter, doubling its first half point total by the 7:10 mark, when Goolsby hit a three-pointer to bring the score to 49-25. However, Morehead State held onto their 30-point lead with 2:53 to go in the quarter, when Jackson hit a jumper to bring the score to 60-30. The Eagles then went into the fourth quarter, holding a 60-34 lead over the Golden Eagles with Asia Harper and Lindsey Jennings hitting jumpers in the last two minutes. Tech continued to battle into the fourth quarter, however, their efforts fell short as Morehead State clung to the lead they created in the first half to defeat Tech 81-52.
The Eagles shot 55.6 percent from the field, 47.1 percent from the three-point range, and 76.5 percent from the free throw line to the Golden Eagles 35.6 percent from the floor, 21.1 percent from beyond the arc, and 75 percent from the charity stripe at the break. Morehead State outrebounded Tech b y a 34-30 margin and forced 19 Golden Eagle turnovers while allowing just 14.
Tech will close out regular season contests on Saturday, when they travel to Richmond, Ky., to take on OVC opponent Eastern Kentucky at 3:30 p.m.
Photo by Thomas Corhern