By Rob Schabert, Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Nearly half of Tennessee State's shot came from 3-point range Thursday night, and nearly half found the net as the Tigers led for almost the entire night in Eblen Center.
But it was a 3-pointer from junior Hannah Goolsby that lit up the home crowd as Tennessee Tech (6-14/2-5 OVC) rallied in the final 65 seconds to claim a thrilling 67-60 Ohio Valley Conference victory over the Tigers (9-10/4-2 OVC).
The win snapped a five-game losing streak for the Golden Eagles, and also put a halt to Tennessee State's four-game winning streak.
Goolsby popped in a 3-pointer from the right wing with 41 seconds to play and Tech desperately clinging to a one-point lead. The Golden Eagles took their first lead of the night with just 1:22 remaining on a jumper by Samaria Howard, who finished with a game-high 23 points.
From there, the Golden Eagles grabbed rebounds on a pair of missed TSU 3-point tries and went 6-for-6 at the free throw line to open the final margin to double digits. It finished off a 13-0 run to close out the game for the Golden Eagles.
In addition to 23 from Howard, who hit 9-for-19 from the field, Yaktavia Hickson chipped in with 14 points, four assists and three steals. She was 6-for-6 at the free throw line.
Post players Alliyah Smith and Mariah Dean were vital to the victory, in a physical game that featured 41 personal fouls. Smith had 10 points and nine rebounds before being called for her fifth foul with 2:36 remaining. Dean added eight points, nine rebounds and three blocked shots while finishing with four fouls.
The Golden Eagles owned a 44-37 advantage in rebounds.
I'mani Davis topped the Tigers with 22 points and nine rebounds, adding two assists and two steals. Brianna Lawrence also hit double digits with 18 points and had five rebounds and three blocked shots.
After a 3-3 tie to start the contest, Tennessee State built a nine-point lead in the first quarter, and led by seven at halftime, 29-22.
The visitors maintained the lead throughout the third period, going up by as many as a dozen twice in the contest. The second came at 40-28 on a three-point play from Davis with 2:43 left in the quarter.
Tech trimmed seven points off the lead down the stretch, beginning with a three-point play by Smith. It was a 44-39 TSU lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Tech teased its fans by cutting the margin to two points, 47-45, with 8:28 to play, but the Tigers got a 3-pointer from Lawrence and a layup by Davis to reclaim a seven-point bulge. It was still seven with 5:07 to play on another three-point play by Davis that made it 56-49.
Goolsby hit her first 3-pointer of the night that ignited an 8-2 Tech run and cut it down to a one-point game with 2:56 left. A minute-and-a-half later Howard's jumper gave the Golden Eagles their first lead.
The Golden Eagles play Saturday at Eastern Kentucky at 3 p.m. in the second game of a doubleheader with the Colonels. The men's game opens the day at 1 p.m.
