By Jonathan Caudle, TTU Sports Information
Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles (2-1) vs. Middle Tennessee (2-1)
Game 4 • Thursday, Nov. 21, 2019 • 6:30 p.m. (CT)
Murfreesboro, Tenn. • Murphy Center
Video Stream: Live Video
Listen: 106.1 The Eagle (Dylan Vazzano)
Live Stats: Live Stats
Twitter Updates: @TTUWBB
Series Record: Tech leads, 55-44 (Last: Tech W 68-64, 11/16/18)
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech women's basketball (2-1) is set for a midweek matchup against the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (2-1) at the Murphy Center on Thursday, Nov. 21. Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m.
Thursday's contest between the Golden Eagles and Blue Raiders is a very special one because it marks the Golden Eagles 1,500th game in program history and also the 100th game between Tennessee Tech and Middle Tennessee.
About the Golden Eagles
The Golden Eagles are 2-1 overall so far during the 2019-20 campaign and are coming off their first defeat of the season, falling 76-65 in their road-opener to Southern Illinois.
Offensively, Mackenzie Coleman leads the Golden Eagles this season, averaging 13.3 points per contest, shooting 68 percent from the field, a perfect 100 percent from beyond the arc, and 75 percent from the free throw line. Akia Harris leads Tech in assists, having dropped 13 dimes so far this season. Anacia Wilkinson is the Golden Eagles defensive leader as she leads the team in blocks with eight and rebounds, averaging 6.3 per contest so far this season. Freshman Jada Guinn leads the Golden Eagles in steals, tallying four through the first three contests.
About the Blue Raiders
Middle Tennessee finished its 2018-19 season with an overall record of 23-11, including a 13-6 mark in Conference USA play. During the 2019-20 season, the Blue Raiders have opened the season to a 2-1 record. Middle Tennessee earned a 68-66 win in their season opener, before falling to Kentucky, 67-52, in their first home contest of the season. The Blue Raiders got back in the win column during their most recent contest as they defeated the Tulane Green Waves in a 64-62 contest.
Anastasia Hayes has been the Blue Raiders' offensive leader to start the year as she averages 18 points per contest. She also leads the team in assists, dishing out 17 assists through the first three contests. Charity Savage leads the team in rebounds as she has secured 11 per contest. Savage also leads the team in steals with five and blocks with a pair of swatted balls this season.
Golden Eagles vs. Middle Tennessee
Tech leads the all-time series over the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders, 55-44, dating all the way back to Tech's first season in 1970-71. The Golden Eagles won the last meeting between the two teams, a 68-64 victory in Cookeville that marked Tech's first victory since 2004 and snapped a 13-game losing streak against the Blue Raiders.
Junior Forward Coleman Stepping Up
Junior forward Mackenzie Coleman is having an impactful presence in 2019-20, after starting off slowly during 2018-19 due to an injury. She has averaged 13.3 points and five rebounds while shooting 68 percent from the field, a perfect 100 percent from three, and 75 percent from the free throw line. Last season, Coleman averaged 6.6 points and 3.2 rebounds per outing.
Newcomers Making an Impact
Newcomers Maaliya Owens (9.3 points per game, three steals, three assists, and one rebound per game) and Jada Guinn (7.3 points per game, 10 assists, four steals, and 2.3 rebounds per game) have made immediate impacts during the Golden Eagle's first three games.
Approaching Milestones
Anacia Wilkinson set the school record last season for blocked shots in a season with a dominant 92 blocked shots. She has collected 144 blocks throughout her career as a Golden Eagle, sitting just 51 blocks away from breaking the school record of 194 career blocks, set by Melinda Clayton during her four years as a Golden Eagle in 1986-90. However, Wilkinson's 1.9 blocks per game average currently leads the Tech record books.
Akia Harris has collected 785 points throughout her career at Tech and is just 215 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 at Tech in made 3-pointers with 155 through 65 contests and 71 away from breaking the school record held by current assistant coach Allison Clark. Brock has also netted 738 career points as a Golden Eagle, putting her 262 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 travel to Birmingham, Alabama on November 24 to take on the Samford Bulldogs. Tipoff is slated for 2 p.m.
Photo by SIU Sports Information
