By Layne Weitzel, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech women's basketball breaks for the Thanksgiving holiday on Wednesday, but before that, the Golden Eagles will take on Radford.
The game tips off Monday at 6 p.m. CT in Cookeville, ending Tech's quick two-game road trip.
The Highlanders (1-1) are the first team from outside the state of Tennessee the Golden Eagles will play this season. Tech's next three opponents (Georgia, Wright State and Kentucky) are also out-of-state.
Tech (1-2) looks to turn things around after dropping its last two games to Middle Tennessee in Murfreesboro and East Tennessee State in Johnson City. The Golden Eagles struggled especially against ETSU, turning over the ball 28 times (which turned into 29 points for the Buccaneers) and getting out-rebounded 49-25.
"This schedule doesn't let up," said head coach Kim Rosamond. "Radford's an outstanding team and has everybody back. We've got to get ready for them. Anybody that looks at our stats or watches our film right now knows that we're not doing well with pressure, and so we've got to find an answer for that."
Radford made its fourth WNIT appearance in program history last season, losing to James Madison in the first round by a score of 80-59.
Tech made the long trek to Radford in the 2016-17 season, falling to the Highlanders 79-46 last November. Yaktavia "Shug" Hickson led the team with 11 points and two rebounds. All five of the Highlanders' starters from that game have returned for this season, including forward Janayla White and guard Destinee Walker, who combined for 32 points and 10 rebounds the last time out.
Tech and Radford have met just twice before – the first meeting came in November 1987, which Tech won 60-59.
- 2016 record: 24-9, 14-4 Big South
- Notables: The Highlanders won the 2016-17 Big South regular-season championship with a 14-4 record and fell by one point to UNC Asheville in the conference tournament championship. White and Walker were named to the all-tournament team, while Walker, Jayda Worthy, White and Khiana Johnson received All-Big South postseason honors… Radford ranks 15th nationally and first in the Big South in fewest fouls, totaling just 29 in its two games. It also ranks 59th in the country and second in the conference with 35 turnovers. Tech already has 67 fouls and 71 turnovers through its three games played.
