By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – It hasn't been a long time since Tennessee Tech last saw Little Rock – just nine days ago, to be exact – but there's no question the Golden Eagles have had Saturday's date circled in that short time.
After falling 61-45 in the Stephens Center, the Tech women will look at the Trojans' return game as a chance to move up in the Ohio Valley Conference standings as Little Rock comes to the Eblen Center on Saturday afternoon.
Tipoff is slated for 1 p.m. Roger Ealey and Frank Harrell will have the call on 106.1 The Eagle, while Dylan Vazzano and Michael Cooper will broadcast the game on ESPN+ (subscription required). The game will also be carried on student radio 88.5 WTTU.
There's no question defense is the name of the game for Little Rock (11-9, 8-1 OVC). Only one OVC team has scored more than 50 points against the Trojans as Tennessee State picked up 57 in a 64-57 loss. Even conference leader Eastern Illinois was held to 44 points – as Little Rock scored only 33 in its only league loss thus far.
UT Martin? 44. Lindenwood? 38. Southeast Missouri? 45. Southern Indiana? 44. Tennessee State in the return trip to Little Rock? 36. Morehead State? 45.
In conference play, Little Rock allows opponents an average of 44.2 points per game. With the Trojans' style of play, they force 19.3 turnovers a game, have 30 blocks across nine league games and have 7.8 steals a game.
Little Rock's offense is not flashy – averaging 53.0 points a game and shooting .185 from 3-point range and .659 from the free-throw line – but who needs offense when the defense is that imposing?
That said, the Trojans still have a powerful scoring presence in Sali Kourouma. After missing the non-conference portion of the schedule, Kourouma has lit up the conference, averaging 17.4 points per game for 139 points, nearly double her next-closest teammate.
In Tech's meeting down at the Stephens Center, the Golden Eagles managed one double-digit scorer as Maaliya Owens scored 12 points on 4-for-12 shooting and 2-for-2 at the free-throw line. Tech, as a team, shot 14-for-49 from the field and 2-for-14 from beyond the arc – an uncharacteristic 28.6 percent from the floor for the game for a team that is shooting 42.7 percent for the season.
Fifteen of Tech's 45 points came at the free-throw line as the Golden Eagles were 15-for-17 at the stripe.
Kourouma ended the game with 22 points and nine boards, while Jayla Brooks had 13 and Tia Harvey 10. Jaiyah Harris-Smith ended the night with 10 assists.
Tech's offense in league play stands as the second-best at 71.3 points per game, just half a point behind the Cougars. In the last five games, Jada Guinn is shooting .706 from the floor, collecting 70 points on 24-of-24 shooting, while also knocking down 22 of 26 free throws for a .846 mark.
Even with the previous meeting with Little Rock, the Golden Eagles are averaging 72.4 points in the last five games, winning by a 7.8-point average margin.
For the season, Owens is averaging 13.0 points and Guinn 10.1. Guinn also leads the team with a 3.4-assist, 1.8-steal average. Reghan Grimes leads the team with a 5.9-rebound average.
As the second tour through the OVC continues, Eastern Illinois retains its top spot with a 9-0 record with Little Rock standing a game back at 8-1. Tech is in third at 7-2, while some separation is starting to form from that point with SIUE in fourth at 5-4, two games back from the Golden Eagles. Southeast Missouri and UT Martin are tied at 4-5, while Southern Indiana, Morehead State and Tennessee State are all at three wins – though the Lady Tigers stand a half-game back with seven losses to the Screaming Eagles and the adjective-less Eagles. Lindenwood, with its two games this week forfeited for lack of available players, stands at 0-10.
Tickets for Tennessee Tech basketball are on sale – call (931) 372-3940, visit the Hooper Eblen Center ticket office or visit TTUsports.com.
Photo | Jim Dillon
