By Holly Weber, TTU Sports Information
Game Notes vs. Middle Tennessee
COOKEVILLE, Tenn.—The Tennessee Tech women's basketball team (1-2) will quickly turn things around and return to action on Saturday, when the Golden Eagles host in-state rival Middle Tennessee (0-2) in a 6 p.m. contest in the Hooper Eblen Center.
Tech currently leads the series over the Blue Raiders 65-42. The two teams last faced off in the 2015-16 season when MTSU topped the Golden Eagles 69-53 in Murfreesboro.
Former Tech standout Samaria Howard led the Golden Eagles with 23 points and five boards in the contest. Howard shot 50 percent from the field (9-18) and 83.3 percent from the charity stipe (5-6).
Yaktavia "Shug" Hickson and Asia Harper each recorded seven points in the contest, while teammates Alliyah Smith and Tia Nicholson each grabbed five of the glass.
Brea Edwards led the Blue Raiders with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Edwards shot 50 percent from the field (5-10), 50 percent from downtown (4-8), and 100 percent from the line (6-6). Olivia Jones also found herself in double-figures for Middle Tennessee, adding 11 points to the Blue Raider victory.
As a team, Tech shot 32 percent from the floor, 10 percent from beyond the arc, and 66.7 percent from the free throw line, while Middle Tennessee shot 36.7 percent from the field, 32.1 percent from the 3-point range, and 80 percent from the charity stripe.
Both teams recorded 19 turnovers in the contest, while the Blue Raiders dished out 12 assists and grabbed 46 off the glass to the Golden Eagle's nine assists and 35 boards.
Looking closer at the series, Middle Tennessee is on an 11-game winning streak, however, the Golden Eagles are favored in matchups that take place in Cookeville by an 18-14 margin.
On the 2016-17 year, Hickson leads the Golden Eagles averaging 15.3 points per game, which ranks her fourth amongst OVC opponents. Hickson is currently shooting 39 percent from the floor, 23.1 percent from downtown, and 78.6 percent from the free throw line. She has tallied 9 boards (3.0 per game) on the season, while also gathering two steals and four assists.
Freshman Akia Harris is making waves on the Golden Eagle squad. Harris stands as Tech's second leading scorer averaging 7.7 points per game. On the season, Harris shoots 34.6 percent from the field and 50 percent from beyond the arc and at the charity stripe. She has also tallied 11 boards, three assists, and three steals on the year.
Leading the Golden Eagles off the glass is senior Hannah Goolsby. Goolsby totals 17 caroms (5.7 per game) and four blocks on the year. She has also dished out a team-high 11 assists on the season, while recording eight steals and 4.7 points per game.
Ty Petty is leading the Blue Raiders offensive efforts this season, averaging 19.0 points per game. Petty shoots 44.8 percent from the field, 38.9 percent from the three-point range, and 83.3 percent from the free throw line. She has dished out a team-high 12 assists for Middle Tennessee, while also recording three steals on the year.
Rebecca Reuter is the Blue Raiders go-to player in the paint. On the year, Reuter has grabbed 12 off the glass (6.0 per game) and put up two blocks, while shooting 35.7 percent from the floor.
As a team, the Golden Eagles are shooting 31.8 percent from the field, 24.1 percent from beyond the arc, and 64.4 percent from the charity stripe, while the Blue Raiders are shooting 40.2 percent from the floor, 33.3 percent from downtown, and 62.5 percent from the line. Tech has corralled 120 boards (40.0 per game), 17 blocks, 34 assists, and 27 steals to Middle Tennessee's 69 boards (34.5 per game), four blocks, 33 assists, and 14 steals.
You can follow the Golden Eagles online on the TTU Sports and Tennessee Tech Women's Basketball Facebook pages or on Twitter at @TTUGoldenEagles and @TTUWBB.
Photo by Jim Dillon
