By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Momentum shifted away from the Tennessee Tech women's basketball team as the Golden Eagles saw a 15-point lead disappear through the fourth quarter as Alabama A&M knotted the game with 13 seconds remaining in regulation, then outscored Tech 12-6 in the extra five minutes to take a 62-56 win on Saturday.
The Golden Eagles drop to 0-3 on the season as they enter the holiday break. Tech travels down to the Daytona Beach Classic on Friday and Saturday as the Golden Eagles face Missouri Friday night at 7 p.m. Central time, then Stetson Saturday afternoon.
Maaliya Owens led the Golden Eagles with 19 points as she was 6-for-13 from the field, including four 3-pointers. Reagan Hurst also scored in double figures with 11 points. Owens also led the team in rebounds with 11.
Alisha Wilson was 6-for-8 from the field for 13 points to improve Alabama A&M to 1-2 on the season, while Amiah Simmons had 12 points and Asianae Nicholson scored 10 points and pulled down 17 rebounds for the double-double.
Neither team shot well in the first quarter as the Golden Eagles were 1-for-11 from the field, collecting four of its seven first-period points at the free-throw line as AAMU hit five of its 15 shots to take an 11-7 lead at the end of the first 10 minutes.
The Bulldogs' offense slowed in the second quarter as Tech surged to outscore AAMU 21-8 before the intermission to take a 28-19 lead. The Golden Eagles used a 10-0 run to build the second-stanza advantage, shooting 8-for-12 from the floor.
Tech extended the lead, outscoring the Bulldogs 18-12 in the third.
The Golden Eagles, however, saw their lead shrink in the fourth quarter. Tech hit just one of its 10 shots from the floor with two free-throws to account for its four points in the fourth, while AAMU was 8-for-13, including three key 3-point buckets late to outscore the Golden Eagles 19-4 and tying the game with 13 seconds remaining in regulation.
Tech went 1-for-6 in the overtime period with four points at the line. The Bulldogs went 6-for-8 at the free-throw line in the extra session, while knocking down three of their four shots.
As Tech was able to disqualify Nicholson and Simmons with their five fouls, the Golden Eagles ended the game shooting 14-for-22 at the line, going 2-for-2 in the fourth and 4-for-8 in the overtime.
For the contest, Tech was 17-for-51 from the floor, 8-for-20 from long-range.
The two teams accounted for 49 combined turnovers with Tech losing 23 and AAMU 26. Yaubryon Chambers had five steals to lead the Golden Eagles, while Hurst and Peyton Carter each had two. The Bulldogs won the battle on the glass, outrebounding Tech 47-34, including 16 offensive boards.
Following the trip to Daytona, the Golden Eagles return home on Wednesday, Nov. 29, as Tech hosts Lincoln Memorial.
Tickets for Tennessee Tech basketball are on sale – call (931) 372-3940, visit the Hooper Eblen Center ticket office or go online at TTUsports.com.
Photo | Jim Dillon, file
