By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Even as SIUE poured in 3-pointer after 3-pointer in the fourth quarter, the Tennessee Tech women's basketball team's offense continued to click to avoid any Cougar comeback bid, taking the visitors down 86-76 Thursday to win their fifth straight game – all by double-digits.
Tech (14-12, 9-6 Ohio Valley Conference) remains in a three-way tie for third as UT Martin and Little Rock also claimed wins on Thursday night. Eastern Illinois, the Golden Eagles' opponent on Saturday, stands a game up in second place at 10-5. Tipoff from the Eblen Center on Saturday for the Senior Day contest is at 1 p.m.
The Golden Eagles outscored the Cougars in the first three quarters, building a 16-point lead that grew to a 23-point advantage early in the 3rd quarter with a 10-0 run to open the final period. SIUE outscored Tech 27-21 in the final 10 minutes – and that was with the Golden Eagles shooting 54.5 percent in the fourth.
The outburst from the Cougars came from beyond the arc as they drained seven 3-pointers, including four for Sofie Lowis, in the fourth quarter – five in the final five minutes of the contest. Lowis ended the game with a 5-for-11 night from long-range, matching Halle Smith with 20 points for the game-high.
Smith had paced SIUE (5-23, 2-13 OVC) with 10 points in the opening quarter, going 4-for-4 from the field and 2-for-2 at the line. She scored four more points in the second and third before being held to two in the fourth. Smith also had seven rebounds.
Reghan Grimes led the Golden Eagles with 18 points, including an 8-for-10 effort at the stripe, pulling down five rebounds, five assists and two steals. Maaliya Owens also had 17 points, while Peyton Carter had 12 points and six assists.
Tech got a well-balanced effort, even as key players ended up in foul trouble with 21 whistles against. The Golden Eagles still managed 36 points in the paint and had a strong effort from Cayla Cowart and Yaubryon Chambers. Cowart had a scoop-and-score, five assists, five rebounds and two steals to go with her six points, while Chambers had four blocks, four rebounds and seven points.
The Golden Eagles ended the game with 23 bench points.
Turnovers were Tech's nemesis late. The Golden Eagles had five giveaways in the first half, five in the third quarter, then nine in the fourth as Tech tried to close out the game. SIUE ended the game with 21 points off turnovers, while Tech had 17.
Molly Sheehan and Ava Gugliuzza also had 10 points for SIUE.
Photo | Jim Dillon
