By Jonathan Caudle, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech women's basketball will compete in the 2019 South Point Thanksgiving Shootout on Nov. 29 and 30 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The Golden Eagles are coming off a 22-11 season that saw the team produce the third-best turnaround in NCAA Division I, secure their first OVC Tournament victory since 2013, be selected to their first national postseason berth since 2011-12, and earn their first national postseason tournament victory since 2006.
The South Point Thanksgiving Shootout's competitive field consists of several Power Five opponents, including Nebraska and Ohio State from the Big Ten, Alabama from the SEC, and USC from the Pac-12, in addition to Northern Iowa of the Missouri Valley, South Dakota of the Summit League, Sacred Heart of the Northeast Conference, Northern Illinois of the Mid-American Conference, and Detroit Mercy of the Horizon League.
The tournament will mark the second straight season that the Golden Eagles will participate in a tournament around the holiday weekend. Tech is slated to open the tournament on Friday, Nov. 29 against Northern Illinois at 1:15 p.m., before taking on Detroit Mercy to close things out on Saturday, Nov. 30 at 11 a.m.
Northern Illinois is coming off a 2018-19 season that saw the team produce a 19-win season. The Huskies return a lot of talent, including redshirt senior Courtney Woods and two of the Huskies three top scorers from last season in Gabby Nikitinaite and Myia Starks. Woods led the MAC in scoring during the 2017-18 season with 22.1 points per game but sat out all but seven contests of NIU's 2018-19 campaign. Nikitinaite was NIU's second-leading scorer last season, averaging 12.1 points per game. She also led the team in free throw percentage, averaging 86.4 percent of her shots from the line. Starks was also an offensive weapon for the Huskies, recording 11.7 points per contest during last year's 32-game campaign.
Discounted hotel rooms can be purchased through the South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa here, or by visiting the South Point website and using code FAN1126. The discounted rates can be used to purchase rooms from Nov. 26 through Dec. 2.
Tickets for the Thanksgiving Shootout will be made available through the South Point Arena & Equestrian Center. All tickets are general admission. Ticket prices are $25 per person, per day. Senior citizens (65+), military personnel, and students will be admitted for a discounted price of $20 with a valid picture ID. Children 12 and under are admitted free but must be accompanied by a paying adult. The ticket entitles the purchaser to attend all games for the date of purchase. Once a ticket is purchased, re-entry into the arena is permitted through the day. Tickets can be purchased at the door, online at the South Point Arena & Equestrian Center website, or by calling the South Point Events Center Ticket Office (866-796-7111).
Livestream and live stats links for both Golden Eagles' contests during the South Point Thanksgiving Shootout will be available at ttusports.com.
2019 South Point Thanksgiving Shootout Schedule
Friday, No. 29 (All times CST)
1 p.m. – Sacred Heart vs. Detroit Mercy
3:15 p.m. – Tennessee Tech vs. Northern Illinois
5:30 p.m. – South Dakota vs. Ohio State
7:45 p.m. – USC vs. Nebraska
10 p.m. – Northern Iowa vs. Alabama
Saturday, Nov. 30 (All times CST)
1 p.m. – Detroit Mercy vs. Tennessee Tech
3:15 p.m. – Northern Illinois vs. South Dakota
5:30 p.m. – Nebraska vs. Sacred Heart
7:45 p.m. – Ohio State vs. Northern Iowa
10 p.m. – Alabama vs. USC
Photo by Thomas Corhern