COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - Four days before the biggest game of the season for the Tennessee Tech women's basketball team, the Golden Eagles will take on SIU-Edwardsville in their final non-conference action this season.
Tech (12-15, 7-10) and SIUE (7-20) will match up for the first time ever on Tuesday night. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.
The Golden Eagles will take on Jacksonville State on Saturday in the regular season finale with the winner of that game automatically earning a spot in next week's OVC Tournament.
TTU will be the sixth OVC opponent that the Cougars have taken on this season, and they have found some success with a 3-2 record against OVC foes. SIUE is reclassifying from NCAA Division II and will become a future member of the Ohio Valley Conference.
The Golden Eagles had their three-game winning streak snapped by Austin Peay but are still 3-2 over their past five games. SIU-Edwardsville is 2-3 over their past five games with wins over Oakland City and Southeast Missouri State.
So far this season, Tech has played three games against teams from the state of Illinois, and the Golden Eagles are 1-2 in those games. Tech defeated Southern Illinois at the Eblen Center early in the season before losing twice to Eastern Illinois.
SIU-Edwardsville, led by second-year head coach Amanda Levens, has three players averaging double-figures this season. Leading the way is Raven Berry (12.8 ppg), followed by Melia Duncan (11.4 ppg) and Ashley Bey (10.3 ppg).
Sophomore Tacarra Hayes continues to be the offensive catalyst for the Golden Eagles. She has averaged 29.5 points per game over her last two and has raised her season scoring average to 17.1. Hayes also leads the team in rebounding (5.9 per game), assists (4.5 per game), steals (1.9 per game) and free throws made (147).
The Golden Eagles have had no problem scoring the ball of late. After cracking the 80-point mark just twice in their first 23 games of the season, Tech has scored 80-or-more in two of its last four games. In both games Tech failed to reach 80 points, the Golden Eagles put up at least 70 on the scoreboard.
Tickets are still available for Tuesday's game as the Golden Eagles look to improve to 6-5 in non-conference play this season. For ticket information, visit or contact the Tennessee Tech Athletic Ticket Office located in Eblen Center at 372-3940.
