By Holly Weber, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn.—With a week of practice behind them, the Tennessee Tech women's basketball team (5-12, 2-2 OVC) will look to build off the success of their last showing versus Murray State when they host OVC opponent Jacksonville State (8-8, 1-3) on Saturday in a 5:30 p.m. contest at the Hooper Eblen Center.
This will be the 28th meeting in history between the Golden Eagles and Gamecocks. Tech currently owns the 19-8 advantage in the series over JSU. The Golden Eagles also won the last outing between the two teams, defeating the Gamecocks 51-49 in an overtime thriller in Cookeville.
Yaktavia "Shug" Hickson leads the Golden Eagles averaging 16.2 points per game, which marks her third in the OVC. Hickson also averages 3.9 rebounds per contest, while dishing out 25 assists on the season. She shoots 41.4 percent from the field, 29.9 percent from the three-point range, and 85.9 percent from the free throw line (the third best mark in the OVC).
Akia Harris is doing big things on the Golden Eagle squad this season. In Tech's last showing vs. Murray State, Harris tallied a coveted triple-double with 19 points, 12 assists, and 10 rebounds. She became the fifth Golden Eagle in school history and second freshman to reach the feat, marking the 10th total triple-double to ever be recorded by a Tech women's basketball player, earning her the OVC Freshman of the Week title on Jan. 10. Harris is currently the third leading scorer on the Tech squad averaging 8.2 points per game. She leads the Golden Eagles in assists with 77 thus far this season. Harris shoots 29.8 percent from the floor, 28.9 percent from downtown, and 66.0 percent from the charity stripe.
Treyvonna "Trey" Brooks is another key player on the Purple and Gold team. Brooks is the Tech's leader off the glass (7.0 rpg) and second leading scorer (10.7 ppg). She shoots 50.3 percent from the field to lead the Golden Eagles, while also shooting 38.1 percent from beyond the arc, and 63.6 percent from the line.
Briana Benson leads JSU averaging 13.4 points per game. Benson is also the Gamecock's second leader off the glass averaging 5.3 rebounds per game. She shoots 45.1 percent from the field, 41.5 percent from the three-point range, and 88.2 percent from the charity stripe.
Tyler Phelion is another JSU player to look out for. Phelion leads the Gamecocks off the boards with 7 rebounds per contest, while standing as the second leader in points averaging 10.8 points per game. She shoots 54.4 percent from the floor and 71.6 percent from the free throw line, while leading JSU in blocks with 24 on the season.
Lacey Buchanon is Jacksonville State's third leading scorer (9.5) and leader in assists with 35 on the year. She averages 2.6 rebounds per game, while shooting 42.3 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from downtown, and 78.1 percent from the charity stripe. Buchanon also leads the Gamecocks in steals with 21 thus far this season.
As a team, Tech shoots 38.7 percent from the field, 30 percent from beyond the arc, and 70 percent from the free throw line; while Jacksonville State shoots 40.3 percent from the floor, 33.4 percent from the three-point range, and 64.9 percent from the charity stripe. The Golden Eagles average 37.7 rebounds and 17.5 turnovers per game, while the Gamecocks average 40.6 off the glass and 15.7 turnovers per contest.
You can follow Tech online on the TTU Sports and Tennessee Tech Women's Basketball Facebook pages or on Twitter at @TTUGoldenEagles and @TTUWBB.
Photo by Jim Dillon
