COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech women's basketball team heads to Eastern Illinois on Thursday to start the New Year out with a bang, as they open 2015 and Ohio Valley Conference play with a 1 p.m. CST in Charleston, Ill.
The Golden Eagles are looking to rebound from a 98-76 lost to in-state foe Middle Tennessee State.
Senior Candace Parson brought her A-game in the second half, connecting on seven of her nine shots, and finished with a career-high 25 points, adding seven rebounds, and two bloc
Sophomore Hannah Goolsby finished with 15 points for the game, while going four-of-four from deep, adding two assists and a steal.
Junior Samaria Howard joined Parson and Goolsby in double-digits, adding 13 for the Golden Eagles, while grabbing three boards, and adding two assists. Freshman Yaktavia "Shug" Hickson was a spark of the bench, adding eight point, while dishing out a career-high five assists. She also added two rebounds, a block, and a steal.
Both squads shot well on the day, the Golden Eagles connecting on 55.1-percent of its shots, while MTSU shot 58.1-percent.
Tennessee Tech (3-10) at Eastern Illinois (3-10)
Thursday, Jan. 1, 2014
1 p.m. CST
Lantz Arena (5,400) – Charleston, Ill.
The Broadcasts
TV: None
Radio: 106.1 The Eagle (Roger Ealey)
Webcast: OVC Digital Network
SETTING THE STAGE
Tennessee Tech will play the Panthers for the 39th time on Thursday afternoon as the Golden Eagles lead the all-time series 24-14. TTU won last year's meeting 64-54 in Cookeville.
In the last meeting, Hannah Goolsby had 18 points, while Candace Parson claimed a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. EIU's Sabina Oroszova also had a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds.
The Panthers will be looking to snap a six game losing skid as they open conference action with a 3-10 overall record. EIU lost on Sunday to Saint Louis as they are now 2-3 in home games this year. EIU has hhad the same five starts in all 13 games this season.
Oroszova, now a senior, leads the Panthers with a double-double on the season, averaging 15.1 points, and 10.5 boards. Amisha Thomas, a fellow senior, 8.5 points and 3.8 rebounds.
Tech is led by junior Samaria Howard, who is averaging 13.3 points per game and grabbing 5.1 boards per game. Candace parson is coming off a career-high 25 points against MTSU, and is currently averaging 11.1 points and a team-high 5.7 boards.
