By Rob Schabert, Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Information

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech women's basketball team took things to the limit Saturday night in Eblen Center, but came up just short in a 71-67 overtime loss to Eastern Kentucky.

The loss ends the 2015-16 season for the Golden Eagles (10-19/6-10 OVC) just short of reaching the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament.  With the win, the Colonels (16-10/10-5 OVC) avenged a home court, 10-point loss earlier this season to Tech.

Senior Samaria Howard capped off her career by leading the Golden Eagles with 23 points and grabbing six rebounds. Another senior, Mariah Dean, had a memorable night in her final game with 11 points and 16 rebounds. Senior Candace Parson's final game included seven points, six rebounds, three assists, four steals and two blocked shots.

Tech also got double figure scoring from junior Hannah Goolsby with 13 along with four assists, and junior Yaktavia Hickson added 11 points.

Five players notched double digits for the Colonels, led by Michaela Hunter's 17 points and nine rebounds. She also had four assists and three steals. Jalen O'Bannon added 13 points and 11 rebounds, Shameekia Murray had 12, Miranda Maples 11 and Abby Wright 10.

The Colonels distributed the ball from the start, getting seven assists on nine baskets in the first quarter, leading to 53 percent shooting and a 20-12 lead after the first 10 minutes. Tech shot just 3-for-14 in the opening stanza for 21.4 percent, but stayed within sight with 5-for-6 accuracy at the free throw line and strong rebounding by senior Mariah Dean. The largest difference of the quarter was a nine-point EKU edge, 18-9, on a layup by Hunter with two minutes to play.

EKU took its lead to 13 points late in the second quarter following four free throws, putting the margin at 33-20, before a 3-pointer by Hickson with 1:20 to play in the half capped the scoring and left the Colonels with a 33-23 lead.

EKU missed four shots and had two turnovers in the final minute, but Tech couldn't capitalize, missing all three of its tries.

The Colonels held the lead throughout the third quarter, but the Golden Eagles slowly slashed the margin, cutting it to one point by the horn, 48-47.

Tech finally reclaimed the lead to open the fourth quarter, the first time since a 2-0 margin to open the game that the home score was bigger. A Dean jumper with 8:53 put Tech up 49-48.

From there, the lead swapped hands four times and the score was tied three times, before a 60-60 deadlock after regulation. A basket by Hunter with 37 seconds to play marked the final points before heading to halftime. Tech had a turnover with 11 seconds to play, and EKU missed a five-footer with three seconds left.

The Golden Eagles surged to a three-point lead in the extra session, 64-61, but were not able to maintain it. A Maples jumper with 2:26 left put EKU up 65-64 and it became a fight to the finish.

Tied at 67-all with 1:37 remaining, the Colonels grabbed a defensive rebound and Hunter's jumper with 50 seconds left proved the game-winner. Another Tech turnover followed and Hunter added a layup with 32 seconds left.

The Golden Eagles missed three tries in the final 30 seconds.