By Jocelyn VerVelde, TTU Sports Infromation Coordinator
Gameday Central
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech women's basketball team hits the road Saturday as it travels to Jacksonville State for a 2 p.m. CT showdown with the Gamecocks.
Tech holds the all-time series advantage over the Gamecocks, winning 18 of 21 showdowns, including the first meeting earlier this season. The Golden Eagles won both meetings last year, but this season is the Gamecocks' first under new head coach Rick Pietri.
This will be the second time the Golden Eagles match-up with the Gamecocks this season and will be looking for the same result as when they met in Cookeville as the Golden Eagles took that game, 72-67. Four players scored in double digits for Tech, led by junior center Candace Parson with 15 points and six rebounds. Junior Diamond Henderson and junior T'Keyah Williams added 14 each while grad student Kayla Brewer scored 10 and blocked three shots. Williams topped Tech with nine rebounds while Henderson chipped in with five assists. Tech also got nine points and five rebounds from senior Molly Heady. For JSU, Candace Morton led all scorers with 24 points, while Destany McLin posted a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Bria'Unna Buckner contributed 14 points.
The Gamecocks (9-15, 5-6) lost their last game, but won three straight prior to their loss to Morehead State. Morton is leading JSU by averaging 17.1 points per game, while McLin is averaging 13.3. Both are also leading the team in rebounds as Morton averages 6.2 per game and McLin averages six.
On the road this season, the Golden Eagles are 3-9, but 2-3 on the road in conference play. They will be looking to build off of an impressive win over Tennessee State Monday where they won, 79-75 in a battle down the stretch. Strong play in the paint keyed the victory, led by seven blocked shots from Kayla Brewer and a career-high 20 points from Candace Parson. Junior Diamond Henderson led all scorers with 25 points for the Golden Eagles, and added six rebounds, five assists and three steals in a stellar all-around effort. While they were the only two Golden Eagles to score in double digits, several teammates chipped in with key numbers. Molly Heady added nine points and four assists, Brewer had nine rebounds and a career-best seven blocked shots, and Catherine Taylor notched six points, five rebounds and a career-best four assists.
The game versus JSU will be shown on the OVC Digital Network and also available on the Golden Eagle Sports Network via 106.1 FM The Eagle, with Roger Ealey making the call.
