By Holly Weber, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn.—For the first time since 2010, a Tennessee Tech women's basketball player has recorded a triple-double. Akia Harris led the way for the Golden Eagles (5-12, 2-2 OVC) to a 72-54 victory over Murray State (10-6, 2-1 OVC) with a career-high 19 points, 12 assists, and a career-best 10 rebounds. Harris becomes the fifth ever Golden Eagle to record a triple-double, and the first since Tacarra Hayes in 2010. Harris also marks herself as only the second freshman ever in Tech history to reach the feat, Cecilia Ramsey being the first freshman to reach the mark nearly 30 years ago. Harris' triple-double also goes down in history as the 10th triple-double ever recorded from a Golden Eagle.
"It was a great team win," head coach Kim Rosamond remarked. "We had four quarters of great execution on the offensive and defensive end. And it all started with how we started. The last three or four games we struggled early on and dug ourselves a hole. We changed some things up tonight and it looks like it worked a little bit. I have to credit our players because they came out and executed the game plan to a 'T.' I am really proud of our kids because we have been so close game after game, so to see them turn a corner tonight I am very happy for them."
The Tech team came out ready to fight from the start. The Golden Eagles and Racers remained neck and neck throughout first quarter play with Murray State owning a 7-6 advantage to start. Tech tied things up at 11 with 1:37 to go in the quarter with a three from Harris, however, Murray State ended the quarter with a slight 13-11 advantage as Ke'Shunan James hit a jumper at the buzzer.
"To be able to beat a team like Murray tonight is just outstanding," Rosamond continued. "They are such a good team offensively and I thought being able to hold them to 54 points was exceptional."
Heading into the second quarter, the Golden Eagles really began to find their momentum. Tech went on a 10-0 run to open play causing Murray State to take a timeout. Once play resumed, the Purple and Gold squad kept in their groove and a jumper from Treyvonna "Trey" Brooks with 3:02 on the clock had Tech up by five at 28-23. From there, the Golden Eagles continued to capitalize on their lead and pushed ahead to 32-27 with a layup from Brooks, before closing out the second quarter with a three from Harris at the buzzer to put Tech up by 10 at 37-27 heading into halftime.
At the half, the Golden Eagles were shooting 55.6 percent from the field, 71.4 percent from the three-point range, and 100 percent (2-for-2) from the free throw line, while the Racers were shooting 35.5 percent from the floor, 16.7 percent from beyond the arc, and 60 percent from the charity stripe. Tech grabbed 17 rebounds to Murray State's 16, however, the Racers forced nine Golden Eagle turnovers while allowing just eight.
Tech continued to build upon their lead in the third quarter, pulling ahead to 42-27 with two at the line by Harris and 6:24 on the clock. The Racers tried to cut back into the Golden Eagle lead, coming within nine points of Tech at the 3:44 mark with a three from Jasmine Borders. However, the Purple and Gold squad remained unfazed and layups from Yaktavia "Shug" Hickson and Brooks back-to-back put Tech up by 14 at 51-37. Tech then went on to round out the third quarter leading by ten at 53-43.
As fourth quarter play started up, the Golden Eagles quickly added buffer to their lead with a jumper from Hickson with 6:31 on the clock putting Tech up by 12 at 60-48. From there, the Golden Eagles held on to an 18 point lead at 68-50 with a layup from Brooks at the 3:06 mark, before concluding the game with an outstanding 72-54 victory over Murray State to claim their second conference win of the season.
Brooks led the Golden Eagles with 21 points, and recorded her third double-double of the season when she added on 10 caroms to her performance. Brooks shot 76.9 percent from the field (10-13) and added two blocks and one steal to the Tech victory. Harris shot 63.6 percent from the field, 75 percent from the three-point range, and added three steals to her triple-double performance. Hannah Goolsby also found herself in double-figures for the Purple and Gold, collecting 10 points in the matchup while adding five boards and shooting 60 percent from the floor.
"Harris has a chance to be really special," Rosamond remarked. "It goes back to her work ethic and her character. She is going to be in the gym day after day and is one of the most coachable kids I've ever been around. Anything we have ever asked her to do she has been willing to do for the team. You look at her line tonight: 19 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 assists in 38 minutes of play, you really couldn't feel like you could take her off the floor at any point in the game. Akia has got a chance to do some really great things here. She has really earned the confidence and trust of her teammates because of the way she carries herself not only on, but also off the court."
Jasmine Borders led Murray State with 17 points in the contest, while teammate Ke'Shunan James recorded 16 points, three assists, two steals, and one block. Kyra Gulledge added eight points, eight boards, three steals, and two assists to the Racers' efforts.
As a team, the Golden Eagles shot 52.8 percent from the floor, 66.7 percent from downtown, and 90.9 percent from the charity stripe while the Racers shot 31.3 percent from the field, 15 percent from beyond the arc, and 64.3 percent from the free throw line. Tech corralled 42 boards to Murray State's 33, however, the Racers forced 22 Golden Eagle turnovers while allowing just 15.
Tech will return to action on Saturday, January 14, when the Golden Eagles host OVC opponent Jacksonville State in a 5:30 p.m. contest at the Hooper Eblen Center.
Photo by Thomas Corhern
