By Holly Weber, TTU Sports Information
Complete List of 2016-17 OVC Honorees
COOKEVILLE, Tenn.—As the 2016-17 regular season has come to a close, the 12 Ohio Valley Conference schools have come together to vote on post-season awards. One of the Golden Eagles very own was named to the 2017 All-OVC First Team: Yaktavia "Shug" Hickson.
"Yaktavia is very deserving of being recognized as one of the top players in our conference," head coach Kim Rosamond said. "She has been a vital part of our team's success this season, and she has worked extremely hard to be the best teammate and player she can for Tennessee Tech. Yaktavia is one of the most competitive players I have coached, and her growth this season has been fun to watch. She has doubled her production in points and rebounds from last season, and I truly believe she is just beginning to scratch the surface of the kind of impact player she can be in the OVC."
Hickson has led the Tech women's basketball team in scoring all year long, ending regular season play averaging 16.7 points per game, which is the third best mark in the OVC. She shoots 42.9 percent from the field, 31 percent from downtown, and 84.1 percent from the free throw line. Hickson averages 4.0 boards per game, and has tallied 29 steals and 46 assists thus far this year.
Hickson has been a consistent scorer for the Purple and Gold squad all season long, tallying double-figures in 22 of Tech's 29 contests thus far this year. She has posted nine, 20+-point games, including three 30+-point appearances. Hickson has recorded two double-doubles on the year: her first at Southeast Missouri when she totaled 30 points and 12 rebounds, and her second versus Eastern Kentucky when she recorded 14 points and 10 boards. She put up a career-best 37 points against OVC-rival Belmont on Jan. 21, 2017, adding seven rebounds and three steals to her all-around spectacular performance.
Hickson and the Golden Eagle squad will travel to Nashville, Tenn., on Thursday to compete in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament, which will be the first time a Tech women's basketball team has been in the tournament since the 2013-14 season. The Purple and Gold will face off against SIUE in the first round with tip set for 3 p.m. in the Municipal Auditorium.
Story Photo by Jim Dillon
