By Jonathan Caudle, TTU Sports Information
Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles (4-3) at Vanderbilt Commodores (5-3)
Game 8 • Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019 • 7 p.m. (CT)
Nashville, Tenn. • Memorial Gymnasium
Video Stream: SEC Network+
Listen: 106.1 The Eagle (Roger Ealey)
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Twitter Updates: @TTUWBB
Series Record: Tech leads, 10-8 (Last: Tech L 89-57, 12/18/16)
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech women's basketball returns to the Volunteer State this week as the Golden Eagles make the trek to the Music City to take on Southeastern Conference foe Vanderbilt on Thursday, Dec. 5. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m.
About the Golden Eagles
The Golden Eagles have produced a 4-3 overall record during the 2019-20 season. Tech earned a pair of home victories to open the season Cumberland (Tenn.) (88-51) and ULM (75-68), before falling in a pair of contests against Southern Illinois (76-65) and Middle Tennessee (64-58). The Golden Eagles then bounced back to earn their first road victory of the season against Samford (72-57). Tech most recently traveled to Las Vegas, Nev. as the Golden Eagles participated in the South Point Thanksgiving Shootout, which Tech fell in a tight 82-74 loss to Northern Illinois, before earning a dominant 69-47 victory over Detroit Mercy.
The Golden Eagles are led by Kesha Brady, who is averaging a team-leading 16.1 points per game and one steal per game, while also pulling down a second-best 5.9 rebounds per game. Brady also leads the team in trips to the free throw line, having made 35 shots on 48 attempts through Tech's first seven games. Juniors Mackenzie Coleman and Jordan Brock also average double-digits this season for the Golden Eagles with 10.9 and 10.3 points per game, respectively. Senior Akia Harris has produced a team-leading 33 assists, averaging 4.7 per game. Defensively, Anacia Wilkinson has collected a team-high 14 blocks, averaging two per contest, as well as averaging 7.3 rebounds per game this season.
About the Commodores
Vanderbilt enters Thursday's matchup with a 5-3 record on the season. The Commodores opened their 2019-20 campaign with five-straight home contests, finishing 4-1 with victories over Jacksonville State (88-66), Radford (80-46), Saint Louis (62-50), and Furman (74-46), and their sole loss coming against No. 4 UConn (64-51). The Commodores then visited Tennessee State for their first road contest of the season, earning a 106-55 victory. Vanderbilt most recently participated in Junkanoo Jam in the Bahamas, falling 0-2 during their pair of contests. The Commodores fell 62-56 to Rutgers before falling 69-65 against Seton Hall.
Vanderbilt's leading scorer is Mariella Fasoula, who is averaging 16 points per game, while also pulling down a second-best 7.4 rebounds per contest this season. Chelsie Hall has dished out a team-leading 32 assists, averaging four per game. Defensively, Autumn Newby leads the Commodores on the boards, averaging 7.8 rebounds per game, while Jordyn Cambridge leads the team with 30 steals and seven blocks, averaging 3.75 and .875 per game this season, respectively.
Golden Eagles vs. Vanderbilt
Tech leads the all-time series over the Vanderbilt Commodores, 10-8, dating all the way back to the 1978-79 season. However, the Commodores have won the last three contests between the two programs, the most recent of which was an 89-57 Tech loss in Nashville. The Golden Eagles will look for their first victory over the Commodores since Jan. 31, 1991 and their first win in Nashville since Jan. 12, 1981.
Century Club
Currently in her fourth season as Tennessee Tech's head coach, Thursday's contest between Tech and Vanderbilt marks Head Coach Kim Rosamond's 100th career game (43-56), all of which have been with the Golden Eagles. The contest will also mark the Commodore's Stephanie White's 100th career game (33-66) as well. The milestone is a special one for Rosamond because it comes against her previous school, in which she served for nine years as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator before being named Tennessee Tech's head coach prior to the 2016-17 season.
Approaching Milestones
Anacia Wilkinson set the school record last season for blocked shots in a season with a dominant 92 blocked shots. She has collected 150 blocks throughout her career as a Golden Eagle, sitting just 45 blocks away from breaking the school record of 194 career blocks, set by Melinda Clayton during her four years as a Golden Eagle in 1986-90. However, Wilkinson's 1.9 blocks per game average currently leads the Tech record books.
Akia Harris has collected 809 points throughout her career at Tech and is just 191 points shy of becoming the 31st player in Tech history to surpass the 1,000-points mark during their career as a Golden Eagle.
Jordan Brock has been a dominant long-range threat for the Golden Eagles ever since arriving in Cookeville. Brock currently sits 5th all-time at Tech in made 3-pointers with 165 through 69 contests and 61 away from breaking the school record held by current assistant coach Allison Clark. Brock has also netted 780 career points as a Golden Eagle, putting her 220 points away from breaking the 1,000-point mark and becoming the 31st Golden Eagle in school history to achieve the feat.
A Look Ahead
The Golden Eagles close out their seven-game road stretch as they head to Western Carolina on Tuesday, Dec. 17. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.
Photo by Jonathan Caudle
