By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – As Tennessee Tech enters its final week of the regular season, the tournament seeding pretty much set for the Golden Eagles.
Tech (17-9, 11-5 Ohio Valley Conference) are pretty much locked into the No. 3-seed in next week's tournament at Evansville's Ford Center. The Golden Eagles could tie Eastern Illinois with two victories and two Panther losses – including to Tech on Saturday – but EIU presently holds a tiebreaker over the Golden Eagles with a win over current league leader Little Rock.
The next team back from the Golden Eagles – Southeast Missouri – stands in with an 8-8 record, giving Tech a three-game cushion and meaning that no team behind the Golden Eagles can catch them in the standings. That said, only Lindenwood has been eliminated in the race, meaning Tech's opponent on Thursday – Southern Indiana -- has something to play for.
The Screaming Eagles come into Thursday's game with an 11-16 record, 5-11 in the conference. USI is currently ninth in the league standings, but, with some help, could still move as high as fifth or not make the tournament at all.
When the Golden Eagles played USI in the Eblen Center just a couple weeks ago, Tech went on a long-range assault as Maaliya Owens scored 15 of the Golden Eagles' 22 first-quarter points and went on to knock down nine 3-pointers in the contest – one shy of tying Stephanie Holbrook's single-game record of 10 set against Eastern Illinois in 2005.
Tech won the game 79-59 as both teams combined for 39 3-point tries. Owens scored 29 points in the game, while Reghan Grimes and Peyton Carter each added 10. Hannah Haithcock scored 14, Meredith Raley 12 and Ashlynn Brown 11 to lead the Screaming Eagles.
Owens, the OVC leader in 3-pointers made, needs one more 3-pointer hit to tie Dana (Bilyeau) McWilliams' senior-record of 74 and 13 more to tie Allison Clark and Blair Bowens' single-season record of 86. She just needs three 3-pointers to tie Kendall Cavin for third in career 3-pointers made – trailing only assistant coach Allison Clark (225) and current record-holder – and current teammate – Jordan Brock with 298. Owens needs 77 points to become Tech's 35th 1,000-point scorer in program history.
Brock, meanwhile, needs five points to pass former teammate Mackenzie Coleman in the career scoring chart as the sixth-year graduate student has 1,481 points enter Thursday's game and could pass Renay Adams to move into 12th as she looks to surpass 1,500 career points.
Jada Guinn is also making some career chart appearances of her own as she needs one rebound and 17 steals to break into the career top 10 for both categories.
Owens leads the team with a 14.5-point average, while Guinn (9.9 ppg) and Anna Walker (9.6) are hovering near the decade mark. Grimes leads the team in rebounding with 5.6 boards a game, while Guinn is dishing out almost four dimes a game.
As a team, Tech is shooting .428, including .335 from 3-point range and .761 from the free-throw line. The Golden Eagles are averaging 69.3 points and allowing 63.4.
Southern Indiana is averaging 65.2 points a game and allowing 63.4, while shooting .404, including .298 from 3-point range and .775 from the free-throw line. Haithcock is averaging 15.0 points per game, with Raley averaging 13.7 and Vanessa Shafford 12.6. Shafford also leads the team in rebounds, averaging 7.0 boards a night, while Soffia Rieckers is averaging 3.1 assists per game.
Dylan Vazzano will broadcast the game on 106.1 The Eagle, while the game will also be streamed on ESPN+ (subscription required).
Photo | Jim Dillon
