By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Tennessee Tech surged out to a big lead, but a scrappy Samford squad with a huge presence in center found a way to even things up before the intermission. The Golden Eagles weren't fazed as they used big scoring in the third and fourth quarters to send the Bulldogs to the doghouse for a 79-65 victory.
Tech (5-2) is idle through the Thanksgiving holiday, then returns to action on Monday as they head to Colorado for an Education Day matchup.
Peyton Carter led the Golden Eagles with 20 points, setting the pace in the early minutes with back-to-back-to-back 3-pointers to help Tech to an 18-2 surge. In all, five Tech players scored in double figures, including Reghan Grimes, Taris Thornton and Anna Walker, each with 14. Walker's 14th point gave her the 1,000th in her career, making her the 36th Tech player in program history to reach that plateau.
Chloe Larry also added 11 points.
With a tall presence like Emily Bowman for the Bulldogs, anything inside was going to take some work. The Golden Eagles excelled, pulling down 49 rebounds, including 19 offensive caroms for 20 second-chance points. Bowman herself ended with 17 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks for a double-double, but to get the offense around her, Tech relied on good ball movement and patience until the moment was right.
That movement also led to 20 assists as Larry and Keeley Carter each picked up five dimes, while Peyton Carter and Grimes each had four.
Both teams still had trouble with turnovers as the Golden Eagles lost the ball 22 times and Samford 21 with 11 steals apiece. Tech turned the Bulldog giveaways into 25 points, Samford 24 on the other end.
With the early momentum, the Golden Eagles surged out to a 17-point lead in the opening stanza, bolstered by a 15-0 run. However, the temperatures cooled in the second quarter as Samford outscored Tech 22-9 to even the score at 33 just before halftime.
Tech caught fire once again, starting the third quarter with a 15-2 run and outscoring the Bulldogs 23-15 in the period, then 23-17 in the fourth to stay ahead of any home comeback.
In addition to Bowman's 17, Kennedy Langham led Samford with 18 points. Sadie Stetson added 11 points.
For the game, Tech shot 43.9 percent from the field, including 10-for-25 from 3-point range. The Golden Eagles were 11-for-18 at the free-throw line. Samford finished the contest shooting 37.1 percent, including 6-for-17 from long-range and 13-for-24 at the stripe.
Following the trip to Colorado, the Golden Eagles will return home next Friday for an Education Day contest against the University of the Cumberlands, then open Ohio Valley Conference play on the road the following week with trips to Western Illinois and Lindenwood.
Tickets for Tennessee Tech basketball are on sale now – call (931) 372-3940, visit the Hooper Eblen Center ticket office or order online at TTUsports.com.
Photo | Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
