Tennessee Tech vs. Cumberland University (Tenn.)
Time & Date: Tuesday, Nov. 5 | 6 p.m. CT
Live Stream: ESPN+
Live Stats: Live Stats
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech women's basketball team opens its 2019-20 season when it welcomes Cumberland University on Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 6 p.m. to the Hooper Eblen Center for the second-straight season.
The Golden Eagles enter the season-opener after a strong 85-59 exhibition victory over University of the Cumberlands (Ky.) this past Tuesday at the Eblen Center.
Junior Jordan Brock was on fire from beyond the arc as she shot .700 and made 7-of-10 for 23 points in the win. Freshman Maaliya Owens and Kesha Brady were also major contributors as they recorded 15 and 13 points, respectively. The trio combined for 51 total points in the contest. Freshman Jada Guinn also had an impressive outing as she recorded eight points, while also pulling down eight boards, and dishing out seven assists. Mackenzie Coleman dominated the paint as she tallied six blocks in the game.
Golden Eagles Picked Third in OVC Preseason Poll
Tech, who was picked third in the Ohio Valley Conference by the league's coaches and sports information directors to open the 2019-20 season. Tech sits just behind UT Martin and Belmont who were selected second and first, respectively.
Preseason All-OVC
Fresh off being named to the All-OVC first team a season ago, junior guard Brock was named to the conference's preseason All-OVC team. Brock averaged a team-leading 11.5 points per game last season and broke the Tennessee Tech women's basketball class record for made 3-pointers as a sophomore with 79 made triples.
The Series: Tech Leads (4-0)
The Golden Eagles hold the all-time series against Cumberland University (Tenn.) as Tuesday's contest will make the fifth meeting between the two programs dating back to the 1984-85 season. It will also be the third-straight year that the two programs will face off. In their last meeting, the Golden Eagles earned an 88-55 triumph at the Eblen Center to open the 2018-19 season.
A Look at the Golden Eagles
The Golden Eagles enter the 2019-20 season with a much more experienced squad than they had over the past two seasons, returning nine from last season. The Golden Eagle's returners are highlighted by seniors Akia Harris and Anacia Wilkinson.
Harris is coming off a junior season in which she played in 31 contests for the Golden Eagles, averaging nine points, a team-leading 4.5 assists, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game. She netted a career-high 27 points, which included another career-high of six 3-pointers against Eastern Illinois. Wilkinson was a dominant force in the post last season for the Golden Eagles as she finished eighth in the NCAA, first in the Ohio Valley Conference, and set a new program-record with 92 blocked shots, while her 2.8 blocks per game average ranked her 10th in the NCAA in 2018-19. She also tied for a team-high 6.2 rebounds per game last year.
Other key returners include Brock, Brady, Coleman, and Abby Buckner. Brock led the Golden Eagles in scoring last season, averaging 11.5 points per game, while also shooting .382 percent from beyond the arc and shooting a team-leading .868 from the free throw line. Brady is another impact returner as she was the Golden Eagles second-best scorer last season, averaging double-digits with 10.2 points per contest. Coleman is another boost to Tech's play in the post as she produced a .437 field goal percentage last season and averaged 6.6 points and 3.2 rebounds per game. The Golden Eagles also return Buckner, who started in all 33 of Tech's contests last season and averaged .345 in field goals, while also collecting 154 rebounds on the year.
The Golden Eagles welcome four talented freshmen to Cookeville in Jada Guinn, Mackenzie Keelin, DJ McFarlane, and Maaliya Owens, in addition to a pair of transfers in Grace Pelphrey from Alabama and Windee Johnson from Spring Hill College.
A Look at the Phoenix
Cumberland University returns four letterwinners from last year's team. The Phoenix will be a relatively young team in 2019-20 as they will feature two seniors in Katherine Griffith and Kerrice Watson. Cumberland (Tenn.) will also feature 10 freshmen during 2019-20.
The Phoenix are 0-2 so far this season and have averaged 61 points in both of their contests to open the season. Cumberland opened the season against Martin Methodist College, battling from behind the entire contest before falling 71-66. The Phoenix also dropped their second contest of the season against Fisk University (Tenn.).
A Historic Program
The 2019-20 campaign marks the 50th season of women's basketball at Tennessee Tech. The Golden Eagles enter the season with an all-time record of 940-556 (.628) overall and 437-201 (.685) in OVC play.
Looking Ahead
Following Tuesday's matchup, the Golden Eagles host the University of Louisiana – Monroe as part of a doubleheader on Tuesday, Nov. 12 at 5:30 p.m. in the Hooper Eblen Center.
Stay up-to-date with Tennessee Tech women's basketball through social media by following @TTUWBB on Twitter and Instagram, and liking Tennessee Tech Women's Basketball on Facebook.
