By Holly Weber, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn.—The Tennessee Tech women's basketball team (3-9) will return to Nashville on Wednesday when they take on Lipscomb University (2-10). The Golden Eagles and Bisons will tip-off at noon at Allen Arena with the contest featured on ESPN3.
Currently, Tech leads the series over Lipscomb 4-2. The Golden Eagles and Lady Bisons last faced in the 2015-16 season when Tech topped Lipscomb 81-70 in Eblen Center.
In the contest, former Golden Eagle Samaria Howard led Tech with 31 points and seven boards. Howard shot 55 percent from the field (11-20) and connected on a perfect 9-for-9 from the free throw line. Three other Golden Eagles scored in double-figures for Tech: Hannah Goolsby recorded 16 points, Alliyah Smith tallied 13, and Lindsey Jennings posted 11. Ashley Southern led Lipscomb with 23 points and nine caroms in the matchup, while teammate Riley Northway tallied 20 points.
As a team, the Golden Eagles shot 51.7 percent from the floor, 23.5 percent from beyond the arc, and 68 percent from the free throw line, while the Lady Bisons shot 40.9 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from downtown, and 83.3 percent from the charity stripe.
Yaktavia "Shug" Hickson leads the Golden Eagles averaging 15.7 points per game on the season, which marks her third amongst OVC players. Hickson shoots 40.1 percent from the field, 29.5 percent from the three-point range, and 86.9 percent from the free throw line. Her 86.9 free throw percentage is not only the best on the squad, but it also marks her third in the OVC. Hickson also averages 3.2 boards per game on the year. Most recently, she tallied 31 points vs. SEC opponent Vanderbilt, connecting on a career-best perfect 11-for-11 at the line.
Treyvonna "Trey" Brooks is a player to watch on the Tech lineup. Brooks is the Golden Eagle's leader off the glass averaging 6.9 caroms per contest. She also stands as the Purple and Gold's second leading scorer averaging 9.6 points per game. Brooks' 6.9 boards per game marks her ninth amongst OVC opponents, while her 1.4 blocked shots per game rank her seventh and her 3.5 offensive boards per game rank her first in the OVC. Brooks shoots 45 percent from the floor, 21.4 percent from downtown, and 63.2 percent from the charity stripe. She has tallied 17 blocks to lead the squad this season, while grabbing 16 steals (second-best on the team).
Freshman Akia Harris is another key player to look out for. Harris leads the Golden Eagles in assists with an impressive 43 thus far this season. She is Tech's fourth leading scorer averaging 7.2 points per game. Harris also averages 3.3 boards per game while shooting 25.2 percent from the field, 24.2 percent from beyond the arc, and 60.6 percent from the free throw line. Her 3.6 assists per game mark her ninth in the OVC, while her 1.2 assist/turnover ratio ranks her seventh.
Alex Banks leads Lipscomb averaging 11.1 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. Banks shoots 48.1 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from the three-point range, and 61 percent from the free throw line.
Loren Cagle is another key player on the Lady Bisons lineup to look out for. Cagle stands as Lipscomb's second leading scorer averaging 8.9 points per game. She is also the second leader off the glass with 4.2 boards per game. Cagle shoots 35.6 percent from the floor, 27.3 percent from downtown, and 67.7 percent from the charity stripe. She rounds out her performance leading the Lady Bisons in both assists and steals, dishing out an impressive 56 assists and grabbing 18 steals thus far this year.
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 Thomas Corhern
