Posted: Dec 18, 2023
By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech got off to a fast start on Monday night as the Golden Eagles jumped out on a quick 10-0 run and never looked back, topping Northern Kentucky 77-59.
Maaliya Owens led the Golden Eagles with 28 points, shooting 9-for-19 from the field and 5-for-9 from 3-point range, while going 5-for-5 at the free-throw line. As she hit her third trey of the game, Owens moved into second on the team's all-time 3-pointers made list, passing assistant coach Allison Clark's 225 and trailing only Jordan Brock on the chart.
Tech (4-6) also got double-digit scoring from Anna Walker and Reghan Grimes, who both collected 11 .points.
NKU (2-7) had 23 points from Khamari Mitchell-Steen, shooting 9-for-16 from the floor. She also had four assists, four rebounds and six steals in the game. Carter McCray scored 13 points and had 10 rebounds for a double-double.
Tech dominated on the glass, outrebounding the Norse 37-29, with the Golden Eagles collecting 17 offensive boards. Five of Walker's eight rebounds came on the offensive side. Tech forced NKU into 23 turnovers with 17 points coming off those miscues. The Golden Eagles had 14 steals, led by four for Walker, two for Cayla Cowart and two for Jenn Sullivan.
The Golden Eagles also dished the ball out well, collecting 22 total assists on 27 total makes. Owens and Peyton Carter each had five.
Tech, by virtue of the 10-point run, was able to take a 22-10 advantage after the first quarter and was able to expand the lead to 42-24 at the intermission. Northern Kentucky made adjustments and started to slow the Golden Eagles down, but Tech still prevailed in the third, 13-10.
The Norse outscored the Golden Eagles 25-22 in the fourth as NKU shot 9-for-12 in the final period, including 3-for-4 at the line. The Norse ended the game shooting 41.5 percent, including 4-for-16 from 3, as
Tech finished the game shooting 45.8 percent (22-for-48) from the field, while shooting 10-for-23 from long range and 13-for-16 from the free-throw line.
The Golden Eagles return to action Thursday as they travel to North Alabama for the final non-conference game of the season. Tech returns to action on December 28 as it opens OVC play against Little Rock.
Tickets for Tennessee Tech basketball are on sale now – call (931) 372-3940, visit the Hooper Eblen Center ticket office or visit TTUsports.com.
Photo | Jim Dillon
