By Jonathan Caudle, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Thursday's clash between Ohio Valley Conference in-state rivals, Tennessee Tech and Austin Peay women's basketball, will be a nationally televised spectacle on ESPNU at 4 p.m. inside the Hooper Eblen Center.
"Thursday is a nationally televised game that tips off at 4 p.m. We need our Golden Eagle fans to come out in full force to support our players," expressed head coach Kim Rosamond. "Women's basketball matters in the Upper Cumberland, and we have a great opportunity to showcase Tennessee Tech women's basketball against a tough opponent on a national stage. We need the Hoop to be full of purple and gold at 4 p.m. on Thursday."
Fans who arrive at the Hoop before 4:30 p.m. will receive free admission to both the women's and men's games. Thursday will celebrate Upper Cumberland Night, Faculty and Staff Appreciation Night, and Youth Basketball Night. Fans that live in the Upper Cumberland region will receive $3 discounted tickets after 4:30 p.m., Tennessee Tech faculty and staff will receive free admission to either game with a valid Eagle Card and receive $3 discounted admission for their family and spouses, and young aspiring basketball athletes can wear their jerseys to Thursday's game and receive free admission. Also, the first 500 fans to arrive at the Hoop will receive a free Pepsi and a voucher for free popcorn.
The Golden Eagles currently sit tied for first in the Ohio Valley Conference standings, riding a five-game winning streak heading into its OVC home-opener against Austin Peay. This past weekend, the Golden Eagles (9-4, 2-0 OVC) earned a weekend sweep to open conference play. The Golden Eagles secured a pair of double-digit victories during a tough road stretch against a much-improved Eastern Kentucky program (60-42) and the Morehead State Eagles (75-55), snapping a six-game skid against the Eagles.
Thursday's matchup will be the only OVC women's basketball regular-season contest that will be nationally televised during the 2019-20 season, and is the fifth-straight year that the OVC has featured a women's basketball matchup on national television. It will also mark the first time that the Golden Eagles have played in a nationally televised conference matchup on an ESPN linear network since Jan. 17, 2009, when the Golden Eagles hosted the Murray State Racers.
Following Thursday's game against Austin Peay, the Golden Eagles will continue their home-opening weekend as they host the Murray State Racers for a Saturday matchup. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.
Photo by Thomas Corhern
