By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
MACOMB, Ill. – The first half was a battle, but the second half belonged to the Tennessee Tech women on Tuesday night as the Golden Eagles soared to a decisive victory over Western Illinois to open Ohio Valley Conference play with a 72-52 win at Western Hall.
The Golden Eagles (7-3, 1-0 OVC) return to action Thursday night as they take on Lindenwood. Tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m.
Entering the game, Tech and the Leathernecks posted similar statistics and looked like a mirror image of themselves and the first half reflected that. Neither team was able to gain much of a foothold early and the two teams battled to a 30-30 tie at the intermission.
It was the third quarter though where the Golden Eagles put on a show. Tech opened up the new half with a 7-0 run, then as WIU tried to chip back away, Tech closed out the third with an 11-0 run. In the stanza alone, Tech outscored the Leathernecks 29-14 to take a 59-44 lead.
In the third quarter alone, the Golden Eagles shot 10-for-16 from the field, 4-for-9 from long range and 5-for-5 at the line. Keeley Carter led Tech with eight points in the frame on 3-for-3 shooting, including a pair of treys. Chloe Larry had seven points with a triple and Anna Walker had five.
Western Illinois was 6-for-14 from the field in the third as Addi Brownfield scored six of the Leathernecks' 14 points.
Tech was able to stretch the game out to a 20-point advantage three times in the final quarter as the Golden Eagles held off the hosts.
Foul troubles hampered both sides early on as the top scorers for each team were whistled for fouls and saw significant team on the bench with Tech's Reghan Grimes and Western's Raegan McCowan limited. McCowan still managed to put in 14 points for the Leathernecks on 8-for-16 shooting and 2-for-5 from 3.
Grimes was held to a season-low two points over 21 minutes, but she still had major contributions with four assists, two steals and a block as she helped lift up her teammates. In her stead, the Golden Eagles had four players score in double figures with Peyton Carter leading the way with 15 points – all on 3-point daggers.
True freshman Larry had 13 points to go with six rebounds, while Keeley Carter and Taris Thornton each had 12 points. Thornton also had six boards and was a force in the contest, collecting two assists, two steals and two blocks as she helped the Golden Eagles hold the Leathernecks at bay.
Peyton Carter also dished out four dimes.
A major difference in the contest was at the free-throw line as Tech went 16-for-20 at the stripe, shooting 80.0 percent. The hosts were only able to get seven tries at the line and hit just four free throws.
As a team, Tech shot 42.6 percent as the Golden Eagles sank 23 of 54 shots, including 10-for-25 from long range. The Leathernecks shot 36.2 percent, hitting 21 of 58 tries – including a 6-for-22 night from 3.
Mia Nicastro led WIU (5-4, 0-1 OVC) with 18 points on 8-for-16 shooting, while Brownfield scored 12 on 5-for-8 shooting.
Following Thursday's contest at Lindenwood, the Golden Eagles will take the Christmas break then return home on January 2 against defending OVC champ Southern Indiana.
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