By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Tennessee Tech might have lost the game Friday night against Southeastern Conference foe Missouri in the Daytona Beach Classic, but the Golden Eagles were winners in a different way as Tech put together its strongest effort of the season thus far in a tough 66-65 loss to the Tigers.
The Golden Eagles (0-4) knocked down 10 3-pointers, dominated the glass with 33 total rebounds and 14 offensive caroms, forced Missouri into 15 turnovers with nine steals and had 14 assists to the Tigers' nine.
Tech had four players score in double-digits as Maaliya Owens and Reghan Grimes each had 13 points, while Reagan Hurst and Jennifer Sullivan each had 12. The Golden Eagles were 21-of-58 from the field, 10-for-33 from 3-point range – and held a Missouri team that averaged over 10 3-pointers a game to 6-for-14 from long-range.
Missouri shot the ball well, connecting on a 51.2-percent rate from the floor, and were 16-for-18 from the free-throw line. Grace Slaughter went a perfect 8-for-8 to score a team-high 18 points, while Mama Dembele scored 16 and Hayley Frank added 10.
While Tech shot 36.2 percent from the field, the Golden Eagles were able to battle for the ball to collect 14 offensive rebounds. Peyton Carter was a glass cleaner, collecting 10 total boards, including seven on the offensive side. Tech converted those second-chance tries into 18 points.
Among Tech's nine steals, Yaubryon Chambers had three to lead all players. The Golden Eagles turned the nine takeaways into 17 points in the game.
Missouri (5-1) scored the first seven points and led by as many as eight points in the first quarter before Tech started to chip away. The Golden Eagles cut it all the way down to one point as the buzzer sounded as Sullivan knocked down a 3-pointer well past the midcourt line to make it a 16-15 Missouri lead.
Owens and Grimes scored 14 of Tech's second-quarter points with seven each, with Owens hitting a second-chance jumper at 1:06 and a fast-break layup off a steal at 48 seconds to put the Golden Eagles up three. Frank hit both of her free throws with 28 seconds left in the half to cut Tech's halftime advantage to 31-30.
Sullivan hit a pair of 3-point tries, while Hurst had five points in the third quarter. Missouri retook a six-point advantage midway through the quarter, but Tech retook the lead as Hurst completed a 3-point play as she sank a second-chance layup and the and-one to give the Golden Eagles a 48-47 lead going into the final period.
Tech scored the first seven points of the fourth quarter to take an 8-point, 55-47 lead with 8:14 remaining in the game, but Missouri tied the game and retook a slim edge at 3:30 left with a pair of Dembele free-throws. Carter put Tech back on top on the other end, nailing both of her charity tosses with 3:08 left, then Grimes drained a 3-pointer with 2:23 left to go up four – that ended up being Tech's last points of the contest.
Abby Feit hit a 3-pointer with 1:27 left to answer, then, at 1:02 remaining Hannah Linthacum hit a pair of free throws to go back up one. After a shot clock violation gave Tech the ball back with eight seconds left, the Golden Eagles called the timeout to advance the ball. Carter drove to the basket and kicked it out to Sullivan. The sophomore had a good look, even under pressure. The shot hit the left side of the rim, bounced to the right and rolled off as the clock expired as the Southeastern Conference squad escaped with the victory.
Tech continues the Daytona Beach Classic on Saturday, taking on Stetson at 2:30 p.m. Central.
Photo | Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
