By Jonathan Caudle, TTU Sports Information
Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles (6-4) vs. Tennessee Wesleyan Bulldogs (5-7, 5-4)
Game 11 • Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019 • 2 p.m. (CT)
Cookeville, Tenn. • Hooper Eblen Center
Video Stream: ESPN+ (Dylan Vazzano & Frank Harrell)
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Twitter Updates: @TTUWBB
Series Record: Tech leads, 7-0 (Last: Tech W 100-58, 12/29/18)
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech women's basketball will conclude the 2019 calendar year and its non-conference schedule with a visit from the Tennessee Wesleyan Bulldogs on Sunday afternoon. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. inside the Hooper Eblen Center.
About the Golden Eagles
The Golden Eagles are 6-4 on the season and have won two-straight contests against Western Carolina (62-58) and Lipscomb (78-58). Tech's other four victories this season have come against Cumberland Tenn. (88-51), ULM (75-68), Samford (72-57), and Detroit Mercy (69-47).
Kesha Brady leads the Golden Eagles, averaging 15.7 points per game and tying for a team-high eight steals over 10 contests. Anacia Wilkinson has collected a team-high 7.6 rebounds per game and 2.3 blocks per game, while senior Akia Harris has dished out a team-leading 4.6 assists per contest this season.
About the Bulldogs
Tennessee Wesleyan carries a 5-7 overall record and a 5-4 record in Appalachian Athletic Conference play. The Bulldogs are coming off an 85-49 loss against Indiana Institute of Technology on Dec. 16.
Jordan Wright leads the Bulldogs offensively averaging 11.6 points per game, in addition to blocked shots with a team-high seven blocks over TWU's 12 contests, and averaging a team-high two assists per game. Wright also ties for the team-lead in rebounds with Hannah Troutt, each having pulled down four boards per contest. Hannah Cherry has collected 1.33 steals this season.
Tech vs. Tennessee Wesleyan
The Golden Eagles are unbeaten, 7-0, all-time against the Tennessee Wesleyan Bulldogs. The last matchup between the two programs saw Tech claim a 100-58 victory over the Bulldogs on Dec. 29, 2018. All seven Tech victories have come in Cookeville.
Last Time Out
In its most recent outing, Tech earned a dominant 20-point victory (78-58) over the Lipscomb Lady Bisons on Dec. 21.
The Golden Eagles outscored the Lady Bisons 20-13 during the opening period to carry a 36-30 lead into halftime. Tech continued to outscore Lipscomb 42-28 over the final 20 minutes of play to extend their lead to the eventual 78-58 final.
Anacia Wilkinson tallied her second double-double of the season against the Lady Bisons as she produced an impressive game-high 16 points, 11 boards performance. Tech had four Golden Eagles in double-figures with Jordan Brock recording 13 points, while Mackenzie Coleman and Akia Harris collected 11 points apiece. Harris recorded a season-high nine assists and Kesha Brady pulled down double-digit rebounds with a season-high 10 boards in the win.
Hot Starts
The Golden Eagles have opened the scoring in seven of their 10 contests this season, with the only three games proving differently being against Southern Illinois, Middle Tennessee, and Western Carolina. Tech has also outscored its opponents 179-141 in the first quarter and 344-277 over the first 20 minutes so far this season, leading to an average halftime score of 34-28.
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 159 blocks throughout her career as a Golden Eagle, sitting just 36 blocks away from breaking the school record of 194 career blocks, set by Melinda Clayton during her four-year Golden Eagle career from 1986-90. On a per game basis, Wilkinson's 1.9 blocks per contest average currently leads the Tech record books.
Akia Harris has collected 817 points throughout her career at Tech and is just 183 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 5th all-time at Tech in made 3-pointers with 169 through 72 contests and 57 away from breaking the school record, held by current assistant coach Allison Clark. Brock has also netted 801 career points as a Golden Eagle, putting her 199 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 take one final holiday break as they celebrate the New Year before hitting the road for a pair of contests to open Ohio Valley Conference play against Eastern Kentucky in Richmond, Ky. on Jan. 2 and Morehead State in Morehead, Ky. on Jan. 4.
Photo by Thomas Corhern
