By: Holly Weber, TTU Sports Information Coordinator
GREENSBORO, N.C.—The Tennessee Tech women's basketball team (3-5, 0-0 OVC) closed out their four day road trip with an afternoon matchup against UNC-Greensboro (3-5). The Golden Eagles held on to defeat the Spartans 73-64 after UNC-G made a strong fourth quarter campaign for a comeback.
The Golden Eagles took control of the game early on with Samaria Howard scoring first at the 8:57 mark. Tech then created a 7-3 lead off of back-to-back free throws made by Alliyah Smith, however, Greensboro would not relent and tied the game at 9-9. Smith with a put back gave Tech the lead again at 11-9 at the 3:18 mark and created the momentum for the Golden Eagles to break away. Tech then went on an 11-2 run to close out the first quarter 22-11, ending the period with a three from Howard.
The Golden Eagles picked up the pace further into the second period. Tia Nicholson opening the quarter with a layup at the 9:37 mark. Tech continued to force turnover on the Spartans, taking advantage of UNC-G fouls as well. At the 5:43 mark Goolsby competed a layup to take the score to 31-15 and forced the foul and connected on her free throw attempt to pull Tech further ahead at 32-15. Strong Golden Eagle defense continued to plague the Spartan attempts to complete field goals and gave Tech more opportunities to drive to the basket and score. Another 3-pointer at the 3:27 mark pushed the Golden Eagle's lead further to 38-19 gave them further momentum to close out the half with a 44-25 advantage over the Spartans.
After the half, UNC-G came out determined to battle back with Tech. Strong defenses on both sides caused for minimum scoring opportunities. The Spartans continued to force turnovers for the Golden Eagles and fast breaks were plagued with incomplete buckets. Asia Harper scored first in the third for Tech at the 9:33 mark, however, the momentum began to subtly shift over in favor of Greensboro. The Spartans got on a run and pulled the score to 52-38 with a three from Bailey Williams. Howard connected on two free throws at the 1:30 mark and Hannah Goolsby followed with a layup with 37 seconds remaining to try to keep pushing the Tech lead, however, the Spartan's Williams followed up with two made free throws of her own to end the third quarter with a Tech lead at 56-40.
Things began to pick up more for UNC-G into the fourth quarter. The Spartans made a jab at the Tech lead and out-scored the Golden Eagles 24 points to 17, however, the lead that Tech created in the first half was too great for a UNC-G comeback.
The Golden Eagles closed out the victory averaging 45.3-percent from the field, 37.5-percent from the three-point range, and 73.3-percent from the line. UNC-G averaged 35-percent from the field, 25-percent from beyond the arc, and 70.4-percent from the line. The Spartans gave just 9 turnovers compared to Tech's 11, but the Golden Eagles grabbed 36 rebounds to UNC-G's 34.
Smith captured her first double-double as a Golden Eagle putting up 13 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. Howard scored a team-high 19 points, connecting on 5-of-14 from the field, 2-of-4 from the three-point range, and 7-of-10 from the line, while teammate Yaktavia Hickson posted 12 points and two assists in the matchup. Spartan powerhouse Lucy Mason led UNC-G with 25 points and five assists.
The Golden Eagles return to action on Dec. 13 when they host Clemson in a 2 p.m. matchup at the Eblen Center.
