COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - With four experienced seniors to provide
leadership to a roster filled with newcomers, Tennessee Tech
women's basketball coach Amy Brown and the Golden Eagles have their
sites set on becoming the 2008-09 Ohio Valley Conference
Champions.
The season kicks off on Monday, Nov. 10, when Tech hosts an
exhibition doubleheader beginning with the women's team facing
Tusculum College at 5:30 p.m. in Eblen Center.
Seniors Blair Bowens, Meagan Lyons, Allison Price and Rachel
Whittle all played major roles for the Golden Eagles last season,
combining for over 26 points and 11 rebounds per game.
Brown, in her third year at the helm, believes that this team has
the talent to make a run at the OVC crown.
"I think these seniors are ready to win a conference championship,"
Brown said. "I think their mentality and their physical
conditioning are ready to do that."
Also back is sophomore Jasmine White, who saw action in all 30
Golden Eagle games last season, and was voted the team's Most
Improved Player by her teammates.
"I really believe that the depth of this team is at an all-time
high since I've taken over as head coach," Brown said.
The Golden Eagles lost three seniors following the 2007-08 season,
including leading scorer and second-team all-OVC center Kristina
Tyler, who averaged 14.2 points and added seven rebounds per game.
Also gone are Cara Reed and Marissa Hensley.
Bowens, the top returning scorer, averaged 10.1 points and 3.2
rebounds per game in 2007-08. An aggressive and tough style of play
makes her valuable on both ends of the floor. Lyons, another player
who shared part of the scoring load for the Golden Eagles, averaged
8.7 points and 4.5 rebounds.
Next in scoring was Price, who averaged 6.8 points and 3.1
rebounds. An exceptionally quick guard, Price also led the team in
assists with a season total of 95. Price shared the top spot in
steals with Lyons, another quick guard, each taking 52 for the
Golden Eagles.
Nine new faces will complete the roster this winter. Among those
newcomers is 6-foot-3 junior center Vivian Nwosu, who sat out last
year due to NCAA transfer rules. Nwosu played two seasons at
McLennan Community College. Before transferring to Tech last year,
the junior from Waco, Texas, averaged 20 points and 12
rebounds.
"I feel we've improved our offensive punch with Vivian being able
to play the next two years, as well as adding to the guard spot to
help out Blair, Meagan and Allison," Brown said. "Also, Rachel
Whittle has a year of experience and a healthy knee, so I'm really
looking forward to the season."
Other newcomers joining the Golden Eagles are freshmen Kelleshia
Cook, Rachel Glidden, Ellie Foster, Tacarra Hayes, Danielle
Pointer, Simone Rutledge, Krystal Stirrup, and Amber Trail.
Hayes is a natural scorer, and can play the guard or forward spot,
and also has the ability to shoot the three. Cook is a point guard
who is a threat to fill up the stat sheet every night. In high
school, she averaged 15 points, eight assists, and six rebounds per
game.
Rutledge and Stirrup will provide depth down low for the Golden
Eagles. Rutledge, a 6-0 forward who can also play center, put up
eight points and nine rebounds per game in high school.
Stirrup, a forward, is a versatile athlete who can do it all. She
averaged 15 points, eight rebounds, four assists, three steals and
two blocks per game at Douglas McArthur High School in San Antonio,
Texas.
"I believe that these freshmen coming in can help with the depth
and athleticism, especially in scoring some points."
However, with the youth comes question marks, and those question
marks translated to a lower-than-usual preseason prediction from
other Ohio Valley Conference schools. Tennessee Tech was picked to
finish seventh in the OVC.
A seventh place finish would put Tech in the OVC post-season
tournament, but the expectations in Cookeville are much higher, as
Tech has perennially challenged for the OVC crown.
Season tickets are currently on sale and can be purchased at either
the Athletic Ticket Office in Eblen Center or by calling (931)
372-3940. Tickets are also on sale online at TTUsports.com.
July 1, 2009
Amy Brown steps down as womens basketball coach
April 24, 2009
Women's basketball team helps local organization
February 27, 2009
Tech hoops team wrap up regular season with pair at Jacksonville State
February 19, 2009
Tennessee State women run past Tech 67-57 in Eblen Center battle
February 17, 2009
Tech women jockeying for position down the stretch
February 13, 2009
Road trip takes Tech hoops teams to Martin for Saturday doubleheader
February 13, 2009
Bowens scores 28 to lead Tech to third win in last four games
February 12, 2009
Tech women hang tough but fall to league-leading Lady Racers
February 12, 2009
Tech women's team part of nationwide "Pink Zone" program Thursday night
February 11, 2009
Golden Eagle basketball teams face tough chores in Kentucky
February 8, 2009
Tech wins second straight, tops Morehead State by four
February 5, 2009
Bowens, Lyons lead Tech to "grand" win over EKU
February 3, 2009
Golden Eagle women host EKU in battle for position in OVC standings
January 31, 2009
Golden Eagle women felled at Southeast Missouri, 61-55
January 29, 2009
Hot-shooting Eastern Illinois deals Tech 76-56 OVC road loss
January 23, 2009
Double-overtime OVC battle goes to Lady Govs by two points
January 20, 2009
All-Session Tickets for 2009 OVC Basketball Tournament on sale now
January 20, 2009
Rachel Whittle receives annual Myers-Barker Scholarship
January 17, 2009
League co-leader Murray State claims 69-47 OVC win over Tech
January 15, 2009
Golden Eagles build early lead, hold on for 63-56 win over UTM
January 13, 2009
Tech hosts "Pack The House" Night Saturday against Murray State
January 13, 2009
Golden Eagle women look to continue trend against UTM
January 12, 2009
Tennessee Tech Basketball teams to host Alumni Day Saturday
January 7, 2009
Eastern Kentucky posts 66-50 OVC win over Golden Eagles
January 7, 2009
Scoreless stretch stalls Tech in 64-52 loss at Morehead State
January 5, 2009
Eastern Illinois takes lead in final minutes, wins by four
January 3, 2009
SEMO finishes strong to claim 56-41 OVC road win over Tech
January 1, 2009
Rivalry with Southeast Missouri has grown strong for Tech women
December 30, 2008
Tech's Nwosu named OVC Newcomer of the Week
December 30, 2008
Memphis pulls out last-second victory over Golden Eagles, 63-61
December 28, 2008
Three-pointers lift Middle Tennessee to victory over Golden Eagles
December 21, 2008
Tech falls by seven to Southern Illinois, 74-67
December 18, 2008
Memphis has waited a year to get another shot at Tech
December 18, 2008
Tech sprinkles some basketball action among holiday activities
December 18, 2008
Tech's senior pair trumps Evansville Purple Aces, 75-71
December 17, 2008
Holiday Ticket Office Hours Announced
December 11, 2008
Rivalry resumes as Golden Eagles host Evansville Purple Aces
December 6, 2008
Golden Eagles roll to OVC win over Jacksonville State, 84-60
December 4, 2008
Strong Georgia squad deals Golden Eagles 72-46 road loss
November 30, 2008
Defense gives Tech chance at upset, but Georgia Tech prevails, 68-56
November 30, 2008
Second-half comeback not quite enough as Golden Eagles fall by six
November 28, 2008
Where to listen to Tech's weekend basketball action
November 25, 2008
Late run by Drake lifts Bulldogs over Tech by 11
November 24, 2008
Tech women's basketball locks up six high school seniors
November 23, 2008
White's double-double not enough as Tech women fall at Belmont by six
November 21, 2008
Golden Eagles take on Belmont in Nashville
November 18, 2008
Golden Eagles top Lipscomb women with balanced scoring and defense
November 17, 2008
Golden Eagles take on Lipscomb for first time in program history
November 15, 2008
Golden Eagle women battle, fall to No. 10 Louisville in opener
November 14, 2008
How to get around Eblen Center during 2008-09 basketball season
November 13, 2008
Ranked Cardinal women offer Golden Eagles tough opening test
November 11, 2008
First Tennessee Bank Poster Night at Eblen Center Saturday
November 10, 2008
Jasmine White leads Golden Eagles to win in season debut over Tusculum
October 28, 2008
Tech announces starting times for Golden Eagle basketball games
October 15, 2008
Golden Eagle women ready to make run for an OVC title
October 9, 2008
Tech women selected for seventh place OVC finish
October 4, 2008
Women's basketball helps support Cure Kids Cancer Radiothon
September 30, 2008
Tough 29-game schedule facing Tech women's basketball team in 2008-09