GAME NOTES -- Game 8 -- @ Eastern Kentucky (PDF)
By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
RICHMOND, Ky. – If there's any team in the Ohio Valley Conference that is gunning for the Tennessee Tech women, Eastern Kentucky probably fits that bill.
The Golden Eagles have taken the last four meetings and Tech owns a 70-28 record in the all-time series. With the Colonels reversing their trends of the past few seasons with a 4-5 start, 3-2 in the Ohio Valley, Saturday's contest could be an interesting matchup.
Tipoff from McBrayer Arena is scheduled for 3 p.m. Central time on Saturday. Roger Ealey will provide the call on 106.1 The Eagle, while also televised on ESPN+ (subscription required).
While Eastern Kentucky has started off well in conference play, the Colonels are stinging from back-to-back league losses to Austin Peay and Jacksonville State. In Thursday night's game against the Gamecocks, JSU's lead kept mounting and EKU was only able to cut the deficit back down to six points four times in the third quarter.
Freshman Alice Recanati led EKU with 14 points, six rebounds and three assists in the consecutive defeat.
In all, Jayla Johnson currently leads the Colonels in scoring average with 10.8 points per game, even though she has only seen action in five of the team's nine games. Recanati is averaging 9.6 points and a team-high 5.0 rebounds a game.
EKU defeated Morehead State twice in a four-day span in December, then defeated Eastern Illinois on December 30, before falling at Austin Peay and last night at home against Jacksonville State. The Colonels' non-conference slate included a lone win against Chattanooga and losses to Indiana, Louisville and Northwestern.
The Tech women, on the other hand, have three players averaging double-figure scoring, led by preseason All-OVC pick Kesha Brady with 16.1 per game. Mackenzie Coleman continues to build her scoring average, now standing at an even 12 points per contest, while Middle Tennessee transfer Anna Jones is averaging 10.7 tally marks on the scoresheet. Jones is also leading Tech on the boards, bringing down 6.6 rebounds a game.
Going to the tale of the tape, the Golden Eagles are shooting slightly better, hitting .391 from the field to EKU's .359 and .748 from the charity stripe to their .742. EKU does have the advantage from long range so far, shooting .301 as Kendall Wingler (11) and Emma Hacker (10) leads them in 3-pointers made. Tech is shooting .289 with Jones (14) and Tech program record-holder Jordan Brock (11) leading the Golden Eagles in 3-pointers made.
Tech has not lost back-to-back games this season, falling in the opener at Chattanooga before winning three straight against Jacksonville State, Western Carolina and Western Kentucky before Southeast Missouri broke the string. Tech rebounded with a 15-point comeback against Eastern Illinois on Saturday before a tough loss Thursday night at Morehead State.
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Photo | Taylor Johnson, Morehead State Athletics
