By Holly Weber, TTU Sports Information Coordinator
COOKEVILLE, Tenn.—Hot on a two-game winning streak and fresh out of a record-breaking last game, the Tennessee Tech women's basketball team (9-17, 5-8 OVC) are ready to host Morehead State (9-17, 3-9 OVC) in a 6 p.m. contest on Wednesday in the Eblen Center.
The Golden Eagles last defeated Jacksonville State in an overtime 51-49 victory, while setting a school record 13 blocks in a game. Morehead State comes to Cookeville on a four-game losing streak with their last win being against Tech on their own home court.
In the last meeting between the Golden Eagles and Eagles, Morehead State defeated Tech 75-71. Samaria Howard notched the game-high 25 points for the Golden Eagles, while Yaktavia Hickson posted 18 and Candace Parson had 10. Tech put up 12 blocks in the contest compared to Morehead's 11, however, the Eagles outrebounded the Golden Eagles 52-40.
Five Morehead players scored in double-figures in the last contest. Miranda Crockett led the Eagles with 16 points while Steele posted 13, Greenwell had 12, Brianna McQueen notched 11 and Eriel McKee tallied 10. Fouls made the difference in the last showing, the Golden Eagles racking up 21 total compared to the Eagle's 10, allowing Morehead to connect on 26-of-32 at the line.
Howard leads Tech averaging 20.7 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. She has scored in double-figures for all of the Golden Eagle's 26 games thus far this season, including 16, 20+ point showing with two double-doubles. Howard's 20.7 points per game rank her 21st in the NCAA, while her 538 total points rank her 10th, her 143 made free throws rank her 7th, and her 189 made field goals rank her 13th.
Mariah Dean had a strong last showing for the Golden Eagles. Dean notched her first double-double of the season, grabbing a career-high 16 boards and tallying 10 points, while also posting a game-high five blocks. Dean averages 6.2 points and 6.1 boards per game, and currently stands at third in the OVC averaging 2.1 blocked shots per game.
As a team, the Golden Eagles shoot 38.3 percent from the field, 28.1 percent from beyond the arc, and 71.4 percent from the charity stripe. The Eagles shoot 40.7 percent from the floor, 31.5 percent from the 3-point range, and 71.7 percent from the line.
Brianna McQueen leads Morehead averaging 14.6 points and 5.7 boards per game. She shoots 34.3 percent from the field, 37.5 percent from the 3-point range, and 78.2 percent from the charity stripe.
Another key player on the Eagle lineup is Eriel McKee. McKee averages 13.7 points and 7 rebounds per game. Her 13.7 points per game rank her as the 10th leading scorer in the OVC, while her 7 rebounds per game rank her 10th in rebounding.
In the series, Tech leads Morehead 58-23, with a 30-8 mark for games played in Cookeville.
For additional information on any of the events scheduled that night, or ticket information for the remainder of the season, please call (931) 372-3940.
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