By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Tennessee Tech surged out to a big lead and never looked back on Thursday night as Maaliya Owens and Peyton Carter had big nights to lead the Golden Eagles to a 78-57 victory over Southern Indiana.
Tech improved to 18-9 with one game remaining in the regular season, 12-5 in the Ohio Valley Conference.
Owens needed just one 3-pointer to tie Dana (Bilyeu) McWilliams for the senior record of 74 set back in 1992-93, but she tied it on her first shot, then broke it on her second 3-pointer of the quarter. She ended the night with six 3-pointers – just a shade short of her nine 3-pointer effort in the previous meeting against the Screaming Eagles – which also puts her seven 3-pointers away of tying Allison Clark and Blair Bowens' single-season 3-point record at 86 each.
Owens scored 28 points – one away from tying her career-high set just a couple weeks ago against USI – as she drained 10 of her 18 shots, including 6-for-12 from 3-point range and 2-for-2 from the charity stripe.
Carter tied her career high with 14 points on 5-for-7 shooting, hitting four 3-pointers. She also pulled down five boards, three assists and three steals.
The Golden Eagles were able to turn 23 turnovers into 31 points with 15 steals, including four each for Reghan Grimes and Ansley Hall. Tech also had 15 assists to USI's five.
Vanessa Shafford led Southern Indiana (11-17, 5-12 OVC) with a double-double with 21 points – including four 3-pointers – and 11 rebounds. Hannah Haithcock also scored in double digits with 10 points.
USI did outrebound the Golden Eagles 35-28 and 12-to-9 on the offensive glass, then outscored Tech 26-to-18 in the paint, but with the Golden Eagles shooting 47.4 percent for the night, Tech was able to survive any rally attempt.
After outscoring the Screaming Eagles 23-8 in the opening salvo – including a 12-0 run – Tech extended its lead by outscoring USI 17-12 in the second and 23-17 in the third. Tech led by 31 midway through the third quarter, but Southern Indiana was only able to close in by 18 before time expired in the contest.
The Golden Eagles will try to close out the regular season with a win on Saturday as Tech travels to Eastern Illinois. Tipoff against the Panthers is set for 1 p.m.
Photo | Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
