Golden Eagles back home Monday to host Lipscomb

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. -- The Tennessee Tech women's basketball team just couldn't get its shots to fall Tuesday night, shooting 21.7 percent from the field in a 61-35 non-conference loss at Alabama A&M.

Tech had a 46-41 advantage in rebounds, but the Golden Eagles (2-5) were forced into 24 turnovers and whistled for 24 fouls. The host Bulldogs (3-2) outscored Tech at the free throw line by a whopping 19-5 margin. Alabama A&M shot 31 free throws compared with 12 by the visitors, and the Bulldogs were called for just 13 fouls in the game.

Sophomore Molly Heady provided the bright spot for Tech, shooting 5-for-10 from the field including 3-for-6 from long range, to finish with 13 points, the lone Golden Eagle to reach double figures. Tacarra Hayes scored eight points while senior center Brittany Darling managed five points and 12 rebounds.

Three players did most of the damage for AAMA, led by Whiquitta Tobar with 17 points including 11-for-12 at the free throw line. Nadra Robertson and Alyssa Strickland added 11 each for the Bulldogs, who shot 39.6 percent from the field and 50 percent (4-for-8) from outside the arc. Jasmine Sanders added nine points and six rebounds.

AAMU used a 13-2 run in the first half to break an early 5-5 tie and build an 18-7 lead, with eight of those points coming at the charity stripe. Tech bounced back with a 9-0 run, featuring two 3-pointers by Heady and another from Briana Jordan, to cut the difference to 20-17 and the Golden Eagles kept things close until halftime, heading into the break trailing 27-21.

The Bulldogs took control of the game to open the second half, weaving together a 15-3 run to build a 42-24 lead and Tech never could climb back into contention. Fighting to cut the lead, Tech misfired from long range, going 1-for-11, as the Bulldogs held on. The final 26-point margin was the largest of the game.

The Golden Eagles have nearly a week to regroup, returning home to Eblen Center to host Lipscomb on Monday night and Western Kentucky Wednesday night.