Posted: Jan 09, 2018
By Layne Weitzel, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech returns to its home gym this week for its next two OVC games against Austin Peay and Murray State.
Tech tips off with Austin Peay on Thursday, Jan. 11 at 5:30 p.m. CT and Murray State on Saturday, Jan. 13 at 5:30 p.m. CT.
COMING UP
Of the 11 other OVC programs, Tech has faced Austin Peay the most, totaling 96 all-time meetings. The Golden Eagles boast a 76-20 winning record over the Governors, including 28-7 in Cookeville.
Tech looks to avenge its 87-84 overtime loss to the Governors in the two teams' lone meeting last season, while Austin Peay hopes to extend its current winning streak to four games and move to 4-1 in the conference. Thursday night will mark APSU's first OVC road game this year.
Tech also owns a 64-16 all-time record over Murray State, including an impressive 32-4 mark at home. The Golden Eagles have not dropped a home game to the Racers since Jan. 28, 2013.
Murray State heads out on the road for the first time in conference play as well, facing Jacksonville State on Thursday before traveling to Tech. The Racers defeated Eastern Illinois 72-61 in their first league game back in December but have since dropped their last three-straight.
PROMOTIONS vs. Murray State
- Legends Night – In honor of the 40th anniversary of the Hooper Eblen Center, Tech has invited back members of the 1977-78 women's basketball team. The Golden Eagles won the OVC regular-season championship and appeared in the AIAW Tournament that year. Tech will also welcome:
- 1972-73 team (45th anniversary of the AIAW Tournament team)
- 1992-93 team (25th anniversary of the OVC championship- and tournament-winning/NCAA Tournament team)
- 1997-98 team (20th anniversary of the OVC championship-winning team)
- 2012-13 team (5th anniversary of the OVC championship-winning team)
- Upper Cumberland Night – All fans with an Upper Cumberland address on their identification will receive $1 admission.
LAST TIME OUT
Tech dropped both of its last two games at Belmont and Tennessee State, its first OVC road contests of the season.
The Golden Eagles outscored Belmont 52-51 in the game's last three quarters, but the Bruins ended up taking the win 78-59. Tech turned over the ball a season-low 13 times.
After flirting with double-doubles in the opening weekend of conference play, freshman MacKenzie Coleman finally got her first collegiate double-double and Tech's first of the season against Belmont with 17 points and a career-high 11 rebounds. Coleman accomplished this while matching up with Belmont senior and two-time OVC Defensive Player of the Year Sally McCabe.
Tech headed back to Nashville two days later for a game at Tennessee State. Although they came within four points midway through the fourth quarter, Tech fell to the Lady Tigers 76-66. Four of Tech's five starters scored in double-figures, with Akia Harris coming up just short with nine points. Tech also did well on the boards, out-rebounding TSU 32-29 (15 of the team's rebounds were offensive, matching the team-high number set on Nov. 27, 2017 at Georgia).
Yaktavia "Shug" Hickson, who played all 40 minutes, led Tech in scoring with 14 points and eight rebounds to match her season-high.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
vs. Austin Peay
Thursday, Jan. 11, 5:30 p.m. CT
Live stream: OVC Digital Network
Radio: 106.1 The Eagle
vs. Murray State
Saturday, Jan. 13, 5:30 p.m. CT
Live stream: OVC Digital Network
Radio: 106.1 The Eagle
A LOOK AT THE OPPONENTS
Austin Peay Governors (10-5, 3-1 OVC)
- 2016-17 record: 14-16, 8-8 Ohio Valley Conference (tied for fourth in the regular season; lost to 4-seed UT Martin 59-43 in the tournament first round)
- Notables: Three Governors share a hometown and high school alma mater with Tech freshman guard Kesha Brady – senior center Brianne Alexander is from Smyrna, Tennessee, and graduated from Smyrna High School in 2014, while freshman twins Brandi and Brianah Ferby are 2017 graduates from Smyrna's Stewarts Creek High School. The Ferby twins and Brady played AAU ball together as well… Junior guard Keisha Gregory leads the OVC in 3-point percentage, making 45.2 percent of her 3-point shots. She has already made 19 shots from 3-point range through 14 games this season after totaling just 36 in 30 games last year.
Murray State Racers (5-10, 1-3 OVC)
- 2016-17 record: 15-14, 7-9 Ohio Valley Conference (tied for sixth in the regular season)
- Notables: Senior Ke'Shunan James is one of three players in the OVC to average more than 19 points a game and one of five to average eight or more rebounds. She has scored in double-figures and totaled five or more rebounds in all but two games this season… While Tech has a Hall of Famer in assistant coach Allison Clark on staff, Murray State counters with one of their own. First-year assistant coach Amber Guffey was named to the Racers' Hall of Fame in 2017 after lettering for MSU from 2005-09. Guffey was a three-time All-OVC selection, 2008 OVC Tournament MVP and 2008-09 Women's Basketball Academic All-American of the Year and is the all-time program leader in career assists (512) and made free throws (587).
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Photo by Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
