By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech women's basketball team has a chance to open the season with a 5-0 start for the first time since 1992-93 and the fourth time in program history.
However, it won't be easy though as the Golden Eagles (4-0) head to Murfreesboro to take Middle Tennessee (3-1). The Blue Raiders have won 21 of the last 25 meetings in the series, but Tech still holds the overall series lead 55-48 as the teams enter their 104th all-time meeting Tuesday night.
Tipoff for the game is at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ (subscription required).
Middle Tennessee opened the regular season with a 79-58 victory at Northern Kentucky, then hosted Grand Canyon for a 57-47 win. The Blue Raiders took on Tennessee last Tuesday, falling 89-75, then came back home on Sunday for an 80-48 win over Alcorn State.
Anastasiia Boldyreva and Jalynn Gregory led MTSU with 19 points while the Blue Raiders held Alcorn State to single digits in the first two quarters and under 30-percent shooting in the first three periods.
Courtney Blakely and Boldyreva both lead the team in season scoring with a 17.0-point average, while Boldyreva also leads the team in rebounding with a 7.3-board clip. Jada Harrison is also averaging 7.0 rebounds.
Ta'Mia Scott is averaging 15.3 points, while Gregory is averaging 10.3 points. Scott also leads the team in assists with 12 and Gregory leads the teams in steals with eight.
As a team, Middle Tennessee is averaging 72.75 points and allowing 60.5 points. The team is shooting .453 from the field, .277 from 3-point range and .667 from the line. The Blue Raiders average 5.8 3-pointers and 16.0 free throws per game.
Tech put together a season-opening win over Emory & Henry, winning 82-54. The Golden Eagles stunned Chattanooga 48-46 as Reghan Grimes knocked down a layup before time expired. Tech held on to beat North Alabama 73-64, then cruised to an 84-56 victory over Jackson State.
The Golden Eagles presently have five players averaging double-digit scoring, led by Grimes with 12.8 points, while Eastern Illinois transfer Taris Thornton is next at 11.8 points per game. Anna Walker, who also leads the team in rebounding with a 9.5-board average, is averaging 11.3 points. True freshman Chloe Larry is averaging 11.0 points per game, while Peyton Carter – who scored 21 against Jackson State – is averaging 10.0 points.
As a team, Tech is averaging 71.8 points and allowing 55.0. The team is shooting .428 from the field, .296 from 3-point range and .745 at the line. Tech averages 5.3 3-pointers and 17.5 free throws.
The game is the first leg of a four-game road trip that will see Tech travel to ETSU on Saturday, Samford next Tuesday and Colorado following the Thanksgiving holiday before returning home on Dec. 6 to take on the University of the Cumberlands for Education Day.
Tickets for Tennessee Tech basketball are on sale – call (931) 372-3940, visit the Hooper Eblen Center or order online at TTUsports.com.
Photo | Jim Dillon
