GAME NOTES: Game 13 -- vs. Eastern Kentucky (PDF)
By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – It hasn't been that long since the Tennessee Tech women faced Eastern Kentucky. Just four games and 17 days sit in between the last meeting, but the Golden Eagles still have a crystal-clear memory of that last meeting.
The two teams will face off again on Thursday night at the Hooper Eblen Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. The game is now a single contest after the men's contest has been postponed until February 15 as the Colonel men enter COVID protocols.
Roger Ealey will deliver the radio call for 106.1 The Eagle, while Bob Belvin and Michael Cooper will broadcast the game on ESPN+ (subscription required).
The last time Tech and Eastern Kentucky faced back on January 9, the statistics were nearly identical. Both teams shot the ball from the floor in the mid-40s, rebounds were split down the middle, turnovers, steals, assists all almost the exact same.
However, the difference came at the free-throw line. The home-standing Colonels drew 15 shots, hitting all but one. Tech's residency at the charity stripe, however, was vacant as the Golden Eagles had two free throws in the contest, going 1-for-2 at the line.
Tech had four players score in double figures, including the team's first two double-doubles of the season as Mackenzie Coleman and Anna Jones each picked up 10 boards to go along with 15 and 12 points respectively. Jada Guinn and Maaliya Owens also added 10 points.
Coleman recently picked up her 1,000th career point, becoming the 33rd player in program history to reach the milestone, joining teammates Jordan Brock and Kesha Brady. Tech is one of four Division I programs to have three 1,000-point scorers on the same team this season, joining Arizona, Arkansas and North Carolina.
Since playing Tech, the Colonels have gone 1-3, beating SIUE by 16, then falling at Eastern Illinois 73-68, and twice at home to UT Martin (65-39) and Southeast Missouri (61-55). EKU has a 6-8 record, 4-5 in the OVC.
Jayla Johnson leads EKU in scoring with a 12.0 point per game average, while also leading in rebounding with a 4.7 per game effort. As a team, EKU is averaging 60.7 points a game and allowing 69.4. The Colonels are shooting .380 from the floor, .308 from 3-point range and .759 from the line.
For Tech (7-5, 5-4 OVC), the season has gone in the opposite direction as the Golden Eagles won the next three games after the contest in Richmond, topping Tennessee State 83-34 and winning on the road at Austin Peay (66-61) and Murray State (75-58). Jacksonville State snapped the streak on Monday, winning 69-58.
The Golden Eagles have three players averaging double-figure scoring, led by Brady with 13.7 ppg. Coleman (11.5 ppg) and Jones (11.3) ppg are also in the double-digit club. Jones, the reigning OVC Newcomer of the Week, leads the team in rebounding with a 6.5-carom average.
As a team, Tech is averaging 68.7 points per game and allowing 64.2. The Golden Eagles are shooting .428 from the floor, .303 from 3-point range and .758 from the stripe.
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Photo | Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
