By Rob Schabert, Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Information
MOREHEAD, Ky. – Leading for most of the second half, the Tennessee Tech women's basketball team fell victim to an ill wind blowing in the final minutes, a storm of Golden Eagle turnovers and a shortage of rebounds as Morehead State battled back to claim a 75-71 Ohio Valley Conference victory Wednesday afternoon.
Tech (7-15/3-6 OVC) tied a school record with 12 blocked shots, but the same number of TTU turnovers in the second half allowed Morehead State (9-14/3-5 OVC) to ride a late 9-0 run to a late lead and eventual victory.
The host Eagles also held a hard-to-believe 26-9 advantage in free throws. Tech attempted one-third (11) the number of free throws as Morehead State (32).
The host Eagles also held a 52-40 edge in rebounds, including an astounding 25 offensive boards which led to a 20-12 difference in second-chance points.
Samaria Howard led all scorers with 25 points, shooting 10-for-29 from the field while playing all 40 minutes. Yaktavia Hickson, who missed Tech's last game for personal reasons, returned to action in a big way with 18 points, hitting 7-for-11 from the field including 3-for-4 from long range, and added four assists and two steals.
Candace Parson also reached double figures with 10 points, while Mariah Dean posted eight points, 12 rebounds and six blocked shots.
All five MSU starters scored in double figures, led by Miranda Crockett with 16 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Shay Steele added 13 points and eight rebounds, Natalie Greenwell had 12 points, Brianna McQueen scored 11 with seven rebounds, and Eriel McKee provided 10 points and six rebounds.
MSU blocked 11 Golden Eagle shots, topped by Brooke Todd with five.
The Golden Eagles stumbled early, falling behind by eight points midway in the first quarter, but found a way to climb back into the contest and tied things at 19-19 with 2:20 on the clock. A layup by Parson with 19 seconds left in the quarter gave Tech a 24-22 lead at the first break.
Things stayed tight throughout the second quarter, Tech adding one point to it's lead for a 36-33 lead at halftime.
The Golden Eagles moved ahead by as many as nine points in the third quarter when Howard's jumper with 4:13 remaining made it a 48-39 lead. Tech's lead was five after three quarters.
In the final period, the Golden Eagles once again took a nine-point lead, 62-53, when Parson hit a jumper with 6:30 left to play.
A 3-pointer by McQueen with 3:33 left cut it to three points, and two free throws by Steele with 2:50 made it a one-point game.
McQueen's layup with 1:47 to play bumped the home team into the lead at 67-66, and the Eagles added four straight free throws for a 71-68 MSU lead.
Hoping to tie the game, Hickson's 3-point attempt with nine seconds to go was blocked by Crockett. Two crucial free throws by Steele made it a five-point game, enough buffer to withstand a 3-pointer by Howard with five seconds left.
The Golden Eagles, who have been on the road since late Thursday night due to the winter storm and poor travel conditions, will be happy to get back home for their next game. Tech hosts Belmont Saturday at 5:30 p.m. in the first game of an OVC doubleheader in Eblen Center, with several special promotions on tap.
For tickets or information, visit or call the Athletic Ticket Office in Eblen Center at (931) 372-3940.
