By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Tennessee Tech had the game down to just one point with just 3:52 remaining in the contest Sunday. Every time Kentucky was able to get the lead out to double-digits prior to that point, the Golden Eagles kept coming back.
However, Kentucky made the late surge at the free-throw line as the Wildcats scored 11 of their last 13 points at the stripe to take a 73-67 win Sunday afternoon at Transylvania University's Clive M. Beck Center.
Maaliya Owens scored a career-high 30 points – the first Golden Eagle to score 30 since Jordan Brock against Murray State in the 2020-21 campaign – as she was 8-for-16 from the field and 6-for-12 from long-range. Owens also went 8-for-8 at the free-throw line, pulled down five rebounds, had two assists, a steal and a block.
She was the lone Tech scorer in double-figures with Reghan Grimes scoring nine points to go along with five assists and four rebounds, while Anna Walker had eight points, six rebounds and four blocks.
Tech fell to 2-5 on the season and returns to action next Sunday as it hosts Middle Tennessee.
The Wildcats (4-5) went 17-of-25 at the line, led by an 8-for-8 performance by Emma King and a 7-for-13 effort for Ajae Petty, who drew 12 fouls in the contest. Petty led all scorers with 33 points on 13-of-20 shooting, completing the double-double with 15 rebounds with an assist, a steal and three blocks.
UK also got double-digit scoring production from King (14 points), Saniah Tyler (13 points) and Eniya Russell (12 points).
Kentucky took a 12-point lead late in the first quarter, but the Golden Eagles chipped away, cutting it back within six as the first quarter came to a close at 21-15. Both teams scored 19 points in the second, helped by a 7-0 run for the Golden Eagles, leaving the margin at the same at intermission with the Wildcats winning 40-34.
Tech outscored Kentucky 16-14 in the third quarter, but the fourth quarter saw the Wildcats score 13 of their 19 points in the period at the free-throw line as they went 13-of-16.
Defensively, the Golden Eagles were able to make Kentucky work, forcing 17 turnovers, collecting seven steals and seven blocks as the Wildcats shot 9-for-23 from the field.
Tickets for Tennessee Tech basketball are on sale – call (931) 372-3940, visit the Hooper Eblen Center ticket office or order online at TTUsports.com.