By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – It was a heated contest for the full 40 minutes, but the sprint to the finish in the final 2:32 of the game saw Southern Indiana claim the 69-66 victory over Tennessee Tech, outscoring the Golden Eagles 10-7 as the game came to a close.
Kiera Hill ended the game tying her career-high of 18 points, going 8-for-15 inside the arc. She also ended with a team-high six rebounds. Anna Walker also ended the game in double-figures for Tech as she scored 12 points.
Tech (6-9, 1-3 Ohio Valley Conference) had a chance with the ball in the final five seconds as Jennifer Sullivan raced down the court after Addy Blackwell went 1-for-2 at the line, but the last-ditch effort bounced off the rim as the clock expired, sending the Screaming Eagles celebrating on the court.
Walker tied the game with a pair of free throws to make it a 59-59 game, then Chloe Gannon took the feed from Ali Saunders to go up two. Walker missed a 3-pointer try on the other end and Maaliya Owens was called for her second foul, Vanessa Shafford draining both shots to make it a 63-59 USI lead with 1:34 remaining.
After drawing a foul, Reagan Hurst split a pair of free throws. Tech got the ball back following a travel call, but couldn't take advantage of the opportunity as Walker missed a 3-point try. Saunders didn't miss on the other end, extending USI's lead to six.
Owens made a driving layup with 24 seconds left, then Reagan Hurst was called for her fourth foul. Blackwell made both shots to extend the lead back out to six at 68-62. Reghan Grimes hit a pair of free throws, then Hurst stole the ball away from Blackwell with Sullivan hitting the bucket to make it 68-66 with seven seconds left.
A scrum erupted under the basket as Hurst tried to force another turnover. Instead, she was called for her fifth foul, sending Blackwell to the line, where she missed the first and hit the second to make it the final 3-point margin.
USI (9-5, 4-0 OVC) led the game by 10 points midway through the first quarter before the Golden Eagles rallied back. Tech closed the opening stanza on a 7-0 run and tied the game at 18-all with 1:06 left in the period, then Grimes hit the front end of a pair to give the Golden Eagles their first lead as the first quarter wrapped up.
Tech then took a 41-32 lead at the intermission, outscoring the Screaming Eagles 22-14 in the second quarter. Hill scored eight points in the period as she was 3-for-4, while Owens scored seven points.
In the third quarter, USI rallied back, outscoring Tech 17-8 as the game was squared at 49-all. The Screaming Eagles used a 9-0 run to build momentum. Shafford scored 11 points and had nine rebounds in the quarter, while the Golden Eagles mustered four from Walker and Hill.
USI ended the game with four players in double figures and two with double-doubles. Shafford ended the game with a team-high 16 points and 15 rebounds before she fouled out late, while Meredith Raley scored 12 points and had 10 boards. Madison Webb and Ali Saunders had identical 12-point, five-rebound lines, but Saunders had a game-high seven assists.
The Screaming Eagles won the battle on the glass, pulling down 45 rebounds to Tech's 33.
Fouls were plentiful as both teams were whistled for 26 as the Golden Eagles went 20-for-25 at the line, USI 23-for-31.
Tech ended the game shooting 22-of-62 from the field (35.5 percent), while only draining two of 17 3-point tries. Southern Indiana ended the night 20-for-53 from the field (37.7 percent) with six made 3-pointers on 21 shots.
The Golden Eagles are idle Thursday and return to action on Saturday as Tech hosts Southeast Missouri.
Tickets for Tennessee Tech basketball are on sale now – call (931) 372-3940, visit the Hooper Eblen Center ticket office or order online at TTUsports.com.
Photo | Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
