By Holly Weber, TTU Sports Information
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COOKEVILLE, Tenn.—The Tennessee Tech women's basketball team (10-15, 7-5 OVC) will host their annual "Think Pink" game on Wednesday vs. undefeated, OVC rival Belmont (20-5, 12-0 OVC). The Golden Eagles and Bruins will tip off for the second time this season on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. in Eblen Center and fans are encouraged to wear pink to the game to show their support for cancer awareness. Tech, who has already accumulated more conference wins than there 2015-16 season, will look to hand Belmont's it's first conference loss of the season and end their 14-game winning streak.
When Tech and Belmont first faced this season, the Bruins topped the Golden Eagles 89-76 in the Curb Event Center, which brought the series score to 25-17 still in favor of the Purple and Gold.
Saturday's matchup will not only be Tech's annual "Think Pink" game, but it will also be in honor of "Play 4 Kay." The women's basketball team will be wearing pink jerseys in memory of those lost to cancer and in honor of cancer survivors.
"This is a foundation that college women's basketball teams have widely been apart of," assistant coach Crystal Kelly said. "We want to spread awareness for cancer across the board and really do something more involved with the cause. People are able to sponsor jerseys and put their name on the back and then keep them afterwards. Then part of the funds will be donated directly back to the organization."
Yaktavia "Shug" Hickson leads the Golden Eagles averaging 17.0 points per game, which ranks her third amongst Ohio Valley Conference opponents. Hickson shoots 43 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from the three-point range, and 85.4 percent from the free throw line. Hickson averages 4.2 rebounds per game while totaling 40 assists and 26 steals thus far this season.
Senior Treyvonna "Trey" Brooks is another key player on the Golden Eagle lineup. Brooks leads Tech off the glass averaging 6.7 boards per contest. She also stands as the Purple and Gold's second leading scorer averaging 10.8 points per game. Brooks shoots a team-best 52.2 percent from the floor, 34.6 percent from beyond the arc, and 63.4 percent from the charity stripe. She rounds out an all-around stellar season tallying 47 assists, 30 blocks, and 29 steals.
Freshman Akia Harris is making a name for herself on the Golden Eagle team. Harris leads Tech in assists with 103 thus far this year. She averages 8.6 points and 3.5 rebounds per contest. Harris shoots 31.4 percent from the floor, 29.3 percent from downtown, and 70.5 percent from the free throw line.
Kylee Smith leads Belmont this season averaging 14.4 points per game. Smith shoots 39.7 percent from the floor, 32.4 percent from the three-point range, and 75.8 percent from the charity stripe. Smith grabs 4.6 boards per game, while tallying 87 assists and 12 steals thus far this year.
Two other Bruins are averaging double-figures this season: Darby Maggard (14.1 ppg) and Sally McCabe (11.9 ppg).
Maggard shoots 49.6 percent from the floor, 48.6 percent from downtown, and 83.7 percent from the free throw line. She leads Belmont in assists with 135 on the season.
McCabe leads the Bruins off the glass averaging 7.7 rebounds per game. She shoots 47.2 percent from the field and 75.5 percent from the charity stripe. McCabe has tallied a team-high 70 blocks thus far this season while dishing out 33 assists.
As a team, the Golden Eagles are shooting 39.7 percent from the floor, 30.7 percent from the three-point range, and 71.3 percent from the free throw line while the Bruins are shooting 45 percent from the floor, 36.3 percent from downtown, and 70.7 percent from the charity stripe. Tech averages 37.4 boards and 17.5 turnovers per game to Belmont's 42.5 rebounds and 13.8 turnovers per contest.
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
