COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Jala Harris and Diamond Henderson led a balanced offensive attack and everybody pitched in for a strong defensive showing as the Tennessee Tech women’s basketball team opened the 2012-13 season with a convincing 86-47 victory over Tennessee Wesleyan Saturday night in Eblen Center.

Harris scored 16 points while Henderson matched that with a career-best 16 points as the Golden Eagles handed first-year head coach Jim Davis his first victory in Cookeville. Tech is 1-0 while Tennessee Wesleyan slipped to 1-3.

Tech also got 11 points from freshman Quira Demery and nine from Lashay Davis, each playing their first games as Golden Eagles. Sophomore T’Keyah Williams had five of Tech’s 13 steals and added seven points and a team-best six rebounds.

Heather Gibson scored 13 to lead the Bulldogs while Cody Houck added 10 points.

The Tech defensive effort held Tennessee Wesleyan to 34 percent shooting from the field (16-for-47) including just 23.1 percent from 3-point range. The Golden Eagles connected on 52.3 percent of their shots overall (34-for-65) and 47.6 percent from long distance (10-for-21).

The Golden Eagles roared out to a double-digit lead in the first 11 minutes, going up 20-9. The first half advantage grew steadily into the 20s, before Tech took a 25-point lead into halftime, 42-17.

 Davis used his entire bench throughout the night, and the lead ballooned to 34 points midway in the second half. Tech’s largest lead of the evening came with 1:45 to play when Demery made two free throws for a 41-point margin, 81-40.

The Golden Eagles remain at home next week for two games. Tech hosts Akron on Tuesday night and Rice on Saturday. Both games begin at 7 p.m.

For ticket information, please visit the Athletics Ticket Office in Eblen Center or call (931) 372-3940.