Five score in double digits including two with
double-doubles
COOKEVILLE, Tenn – Double-doubles from sophomores Tacarra
Hayes and Krystal Stirrup led a balanced attack to lift the
Tennessee Tech women’s basketball team to a 94-62 victory
over Bluefield College Wednesday night in Eblen Center.
Hayes (shown leading the fast break) notched her first career
double-double with 18 points and 10 assists and also made seven
steals while Stirrup had the second double-double of her career
with 17 points and 10 rebounds.
With the victory, the Golden Eagles closed the 2009 portion of
their schedule with a 6-5 overall record, the most wins by a TTU
women’s squad in November-December since the 2005-2006
season. The Golden Eagles also remained unbeaten at home with a 5-0
record.
Five Golden Eagles reached double figures in the scoring column as
Tech produced its highest point total under first-year head coach
Sytia Messer. In addition to Hayes and Stirrup, sophomore Rachel
Glidden scored 16, freshman Kellie Cook had 14 and her twin sister,
freshman Kylie Cooke, finished with 10.
A couple of large runs in the first half and a 30-11 rebound
advantage helped the Golden Eagles establish a double-digit lead
and open it to a 50-32 margin at half-time.
After Bluefield tied the contest at 5-5 at the 16:35 mark, Hayes
and Glidden ignited a 15-5 stretch that put the Golden Eagles on
top 20-10. Hayes scored seven in the run and Glidden hit a pair of
3-pointers.
Bluefield scored back-to-back baskets by Brittney Whaley and
De’Arra Darling to pull within eight points, 26-18, but the
Golden Eagles answered with a 15-4 burst which included a pair of
3-pointers by Stirrup.
Tech’s lead hit 30 points for the first time with 14:07 to
play on a lay-up by Hayes. The largest lead of the night was 34
points, the final time coming with 2:18 remaining on a jumper by
freshman Katherine Barker.
Tech shot 43.7 percent (31-for-71) from the field including 40.9
percent (9-for-22) from long range. The Golden Eagles finished with
a 52-30 rebound advantage.
Bluefield finished with 38.2 percent (21-for-55) accuracy from the
field and 41.7 percent (5-for-12) from the arc.
In addition to the five players in double figures, freshman Tiarra
Hopper added eight points and 11 rebounds and sophomore Simone
Rutledge had six points and five rebounds.
Whaley topped Bluefield (8-5) with 15 points while Kia Gilliard
added 12 points. Holly Hudson and Darling each scored seven.
With the changing of the calendar on the kitchen wall also comes a
turn in the basketball schedule for the Golden Eagles, who plunge
into Ohio Valley Conference play in earnest with 17 of their final
18 contests coming against league opponents.
Already 1-0 in conference play, the Golden Eagles head to Cape
Girardeau, Mo., to face Southeast Missouri on Saturday night,
followed by a Monday night game at Eastern Illinois in Charleston,
Ill.
Messer’s squad returns to Eblen Center in a week, hosting
Morehead State on Thursday, Jan. 7, in a 5:30 p.m. tilt to
start the OVC doubleheaders.
The Athletics Ticket Office in Eblen Center opens Monday, and
tickets for all remaining home games are on sale. The ticket office
is open regular business hours (8 a.m. to noon and 1-4:30 p.m.)
Monday through Friday, and one hour before tipoff on weekend
gamedays. Tickets can also be ordered by calling (931) 372-3940 or
on the Internet at TTUsports.com.
