By Jonathan Caudle, TTU Sports Information
Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles (2-0) vs. Southern Illinois (1-1)
Game 3 • Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019 • 2 p.m. (CT)
Carbondale, Ill. • Banterra Center
Video Stream: ESPN3
Live Stats: Live Stats
Twitter Updates: @TTUWBB
Series Record: Tech leads, 13-10 (Last: Tech W 59-56, 12/12/09)
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Tennessee Tech women's basketball hits the road for the first time this season as they head to Carbondale, Illinois to take on the Southern Illinois Salukis on Saturday, November 16. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. at the Banterra Center.
About the Golden Eagles
The Golden Eagles enter the weekend 2-0 after having earned a pair of victories over Cumberland (Tenn.) 88-51, and Louisiana-Monroe 75-68 to start the 2019-20 campaign.
Junior Mackenzie Coleman has been a dominant force for the Golden Eagles to start the season. She is averaging 18 points per contest as she collected a season-high 24 points against the Warhawks and 12 points during Tech's season-opener. Coleman is also the team's leading blocker this season as she has tallied five blocks through the first two contests, while senior Anacia Wilkinson has recorded four. Senior Akia Harris and freshman Jada Guinn have produced a team-leading 10 assists each to begin the season. Junior Kesha Brady has corralled a team-high 6.5 rebounds per contest this season, which included a team-high eight against Cumberland (Tenn.).
About the Salukis
Southern Illinois went 15-15 during the 2019-20 season, which includes an 8-10 mark in Missouri Valley Conference play. The Salukis have opened their 2019-20 season 1-1 after having earned a 103-67 victory over fellow OVC member SIUE and then falling on the road to IUPUI 81-78.
Mackenzie Silvey leads the Salukis offensively as she is averaging 22.5 points per contest, which includes a 28-point performance against SIUE in their season-opener. She also leads the team in steals with five so far this season. Abby Brockmeyer is Southern Illinois' second-leading scorer as she averages 14 points per contest, while leading the team on the boards with 6.5 rebounds per contest. Nicole Martin and Brittney Patrick have dished out a team-leading six assists through two games.
Golden Eagles vs. Southern Illinois
The Golden Eagles lead the all-time series over the Salukis, 13-10. The last time the two programs saw each other, Tech earned a close 59-56 victory in Cookeville on December 12, 2009.
Junior Forward Coleman Stepping Up
Mackenzie Coleman has been an integral part of the Golden Eagles 2-0 start, especially during the team's 75-68 win over ULM this past Tuesday. She has led the team in multiple statistical categories so far this season. She is shooting 15-of-21 (.714) from the field, 3-of-3 (1.00) from beyond the arc, and 3-of-4 (.750) from the free throw line to start the season averaging 18 points per contest, which included collecting a season-high 24 points against the Warhawks and 12 points during Tech's season-opener. Coleman is also the team's leading blocker this season, tallying five blocks through Tech's first two contests.
Newcomers Making an Impact
Freshmen Jada Guinn and Maaliya Owens have made immediate impacts during the Golden Eagles first two games of the 2019-20 season.
Guinn has made 9-of-13 (.675) from the field so far this season as well as sinking 3-of-4 (.750) from the line to net 21 points. She has also tied for a team-high 10 assists, while adding five rebounds and four steals through the first two games.
Owens has collected 16 points, shooting 7-of-16 (.438) from the field and 2-of-9 (.222) from beyond the arc, while also stealing the ball three times, pulling down two boards, and dishing out an assist through the Golden Eagles first two contests.
Approaching Milestones
Anacia Wilkinson set the school record last season for blocked shots in a season with a dominant 92 blocked shots. She currently sits 55 blocks away from breaking the school record of 194 career blocks, held by Melinda Clayton during her career in 1986-90. Wilkinson's 1.8 blocks per game average leads the Tech record books.
Akia Harris has collected 777 points throughout her career at Tech and is just 223 points shy of becoming the 31st player in Tech history to surpass the 1,000-points mark during their career as a Golden Eagle.
Jordan Brock has been a dominant long-range threat for the Golden Eagles ever since arriving in Cookeville. Brock currently sits 8th all-time for Tech in made 3-pointers with 151 through 64 contests and 74 away from breaking the school record held by current assistant coach Allison Clark. Brock has also netted 722 career points as a Golden Eagle, putting her 278 points away from breaking the 1,000-point mark and becoming the 31st Golden Eagle in school history to achieve the feat.
A Look Ahead
The Golden Eagles will continue their seven-game road trip as they head to Murfreesboro on November 21 to take on the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders. Tipoff is slated for 6:30 p.m.
Photo by Thomas Corhern
