By Layne Weitzel, TTU Sports Information
DAYTON, Ohio – Tennessee Tech women's basketball heads back on the road for its last two non-conference road games of 2017.
Tech faces Wright State on Friday night at 6 p.m. CT and will travel to Kentucky on Sunday for a 1 p.m. CT tip-off.
The Golden Eagles last played on Monday night at Georgia, holding the Bulldogs to a season-low 56 points but falling 56-48. The final score was the closest in Athens of the series since Georgia won 79-62 on Feb. 2, 1994.
But Tech can't rest on its laurels based on that game, as it has two more tough opponents in Wright State and Kentucky ahead. Wright State will defend its share of the Horizon League conference title this season and played two games in the 2017 WNIT. Kentucky is ranked 20th in the latest AP top-25 poll and 22nd in the USA Today Coaches Poll.
Tech has met Wright State just once before in a 65-54 loss at home to start last season, which marked Katrina Merriweather's first win in her head coaching career. Tech starters Akia Harris and Yaktavia "Shug" Hickson combined for 24 points and eight rebounds.
Kentucky leads its series with Tech 8-6. Sunday's game will be just the second meeting between the two teams in the 21st century. The Wildcats won the most recent game 77-53 in Lexington on Dec. 7, 2010.
Wright State last played on Thanksgiving Day, defeating Richmond 85-69 at the Savannah Invitational in Savannah, Georgia. Kentucky travels to Waco, Texas on Thursday night for a game with ninth-ranked Baylor as part of the Big 12/SEC Challenge.
- 2016-17 record: 25-9, 15-3 Horizon League
- Notables: Tech and Wright State have a number of common opponents on each of their schedules, including Eastern Illinois (WSU defeated the Panthers 81-46 on Nov. 14), Belmont, Georgia and IUPUI (the Jaguars are a Horizon League member)… Senior guard Chelsea Welch, the 2017-18 Horizon League Preseason Player of the Year, leads the Raiders and ranks 15th nationally with 22.5 points per game.
- 2016-17 record: 22-11, 16-4 SEC
- Notables: Kentucky assistant coach Niya Butts received her master's degree in education from Tech in 2002 and also served as an assistant coach in the 2000-01 and 2001-02 seasons. The Golden Eagles won the OVC Championship in both years… Tech will be the second OVC program the Wildcats face this season, as they hosted Morehead State on Nov. 22 in an 86-53 win.
