By Holly Weber, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn.—The Tennessee Tech women's basketball team (3-6) is roaring to get back into action after a week break of games. The Golden Eagles will host in-state rival East Tennessee State (4-5) on Sunday in a 2 p.m. contest at the Hooper Eblen Center.
Tech currently leads the series 20-3 over ETSU, winning the most recent matchup in 2011 when the Golden Eagles topped the Buccaneers 87-66 in Johnson City. Tech also holds the longest run in the series, winning nine games in a row between 1982 and 2000; also in games won in Cookeville, the Golden Eagles are favored 9-1.
Yaktavia "Shug" Hickson leads the Golden Eagles on the season averaging 13.8 points per game. She shoots 39.6 percent from the floor, 28.1 percent from the three-point range, and 79.5 percent from the free throw line. Hickson averages 3.4 boards and 27.8 minutes per game.
Senior Treyvonna Brooks is a key player on the Tech lineup. Brooks leads the Golden Eagles in rebounds, averaging 6.4 off the glass per game. She is also the Purple and Gold's second leading scorer averaging 9.7 points per game. Brooks shoots 45.2 percent from the floor, 18.2 percent from downtown, and 60 percent from the charity stripe. She also leads the Golden Eagles in blocks with 12 on the season, and has accumulated 12 assists and 11 steals on the year.
Tianna Tarter leads the Buccaneers with 20.5 points per game and is also the leader off the glass, averaging 5.0 boards per game. Tarter is an all-around player, also leading ETSU in steals (29) and assists (45) thus far this season.
Shamauria Bridges stands as ETSU's second leading scorer averaging 13.3 points per game. She shoots 35.2 percent from the field, 41.5 percent from beyond the arc, and 83.3 percent from the free throw line. Bridges averages 1.5 rebounds per game and has tallied nine steals and four blocks thus far this season.
Raven Dean is another key player on the ETSU lineup. Dean averages 7.1 points and 4.8 boards per game. She shoots 33.3 percent from the floor and 53.8 percent from the charity stripe, while tallying 13 assists on the year.
As a team, the Golden Eagles average 56.2 points per game to the Buccaneer's 66.9 points. Tech shoots 35.3 percent from the field, 27.8 percent from downtown, and 66.2 percent from the free throw line, while ETSU shoots 39.2 percent from the floor, 32.5 percent from the three-point range, and 63.1 percent from the charity stripe. The Golden Eagles average 35.4 boards and 17.1 turnovers per game to the Bucs' 36.9 caroms and 16.2 turnovers.
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.
For ticket information, visit TTUsports.com or call 931-372-3940.
Photo by Jim Dillon
