By Holly Weber TTU Sports Information Coordinator
MURFREESBORO, Tenn.—The Tennessee Tech women's basketball team (3-8) hit the road to take on in-state rival Middle Tennessee (6-4) in an afternoon contest. The Blue Raiders saw victory over the Golden Eagles defeating them 69-53.
Middle Tennessee came out strong in the first half, holding Tech to just 13 points. The Golden Eagles ran into early trouble with turnovers, giving up 15 of their 19 total in the first half. The Blue Raiders jumped out to an 8-0 lead to kick off the game and held Tech to a scoring drought until Samaria Howard scored Tech's first bucket of the game at the 6:43 mark to put the score at 8-2.
The second quarter proved to be the Golden Eagle's downfall struggling to grab rebounds and control the ball. Neither team scored in the second quarter until the 7:56 mark when Middle Tennessee's TiAnna Porter scored at the 7:56 mark. Tech made 0-of-7 field goals in the second quarter and was held to 5-of-10 at the line while shooting 19 percent from the field, while Middle Tennessee shot 7-of-18 from the field and went 3-for-4 at the line, shooting 37.1 percent from the field.
The second half was a whole new story for the Golden Eagle team. Tech came out focused and stepped up to shoot 41.4 percent from the field and 75 percent from the line. The Golden Eagles made a strong campaign for a comeback, but their first half deficit was too large despite holding the Blue Raiders to nine points in the fourth quarter.
Overall, Tech shot 32 percent from the field and 66.7 percent from the line and Middle Tennessee shot 36.7 percent from the floor, 32.1 percent from the 3-point range, and 80 percent from the line. Howard led the Golden Eagles with 23 points and grabbed five boards. Yaktavia Hickson and Asia Harper each put down seven points. Senior, Mariah Dean also made a comeback for the Golden Eagles playing in her first game of the season since being out for breaking her foot. Dean went 4-for-4 from the line and grabbed three rebounds. Middle Tennessee was led by Brea Edwards who posted 20 points and 10 boards in the game.
The Golden Eagles return to action on Dec. 22 when they host Wichita State in a 6 p.m. contest at the Eblen Center.
