By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
ST. CHARLES, Mo. – Tennessee Tech got a jump start on the Ohio Valley Conference race with a big win at Western Illinois on Tuesday. Now, the Golden Eagles have a chance to end 2024 with a 2-0 start to the league slate as they head to Lindenwood on Thursday.
Tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. Thursday at Hyland Arena. Roger Ealey will have the call on 106.1 The Eagle, while the game will also be streamed on ESPN+ (subscription required).
While foul calls hampered the Golden Eagles early as leading scorer Reghan Grimes was held on the bench, Tech (7-3, 1-0 OVC) showed its multifaceted roster as it still finished with four double-digit scorers in the contest with Peyton Carter, Chloe Larry, Keeley Carter and Taris Thornton leading the way and propelling the Golden Eagles to a 20-point victory in a game that was knotted at 30 points each at the intermission.
Tech has not lost to Lindenwood in the two seasons the Lions have been in the OVC, but the Lions are improving by leaps and bounds. Lindenwood went 1-17 in 2022-23 against the OVC with the win coming against UT Martin – hardly a bottom-tier team in the conference. Last season, the Lions collected five victories in league play, topping SIUE, a repeat victory over UT Martin, then wins over Southeast Missouri, Tennessee State in double overtime and Little Rock.
This is not a team that can be overlooked. This season's Lions come into Thursday's contest with a 4-5 record with a win over a Bradley program that usually sees postseason action, an overtime victory over Evansville and a win at Kansas City. However, they enter Thursday with a four-game losing streak, falling to Oral Roberts, No. 25 Nebraska, Alabama A&M and Omaha.
As a team, Lindenwood is averaging 64.8 points per game, but is being outscored by an opponent average of 67.3 points. The Lions are shooting .418 from the field, .274 from 3-point range with an average of 5.3 made 3-pointers and .688 at the line with an average of 13.2 made free throws. Lindenwood pulls down an average 32.4 rebounds with 12.9 assists and 17.1 turnovers per game.
Ellie Brueggemann leads the team in scoring with 11.2 points per game while Gracy Wernli is also at double-digits with a 10.0-point average. Brooke Coffey (5.6 rpg) and Justis Odom (5.3 rpg) lead the team in rebounds, while Mykayla Cunningham has the team-lead of 29 assists and 14 steals. Odom leads the Lions with six blocks.
The Golden Eagles are averaging 69.9 points per game and allowing 60.8, while shooting .422 from the floor. Tech is .353 from 3-point range as it averages 7.3 treys a night, while shooting .731 at the charity stripe with an average of 14.4 made free-throws per game.
Grimes holds the team scoring lead with a 12.8 average with Peyton Carter not far behind at 11.6 per game. True freshman Larry is posting an 11.2 mark, while Thornton is averaging 10.8. On rebounds, Anna Walker leads on the glass with an average of 7.7 boards. Peyton Carter has a team-best 38 assists with Keeley Carter close with 34. Grimes leads the team in steals with 22, while Walker has 18 blocks and Thornton 18 deflections.
Following Thursday's game at Lindenwood, the Golden Eagles will take off the Christmas holiday and return to action in the Eblen Center with a visit from defending OVC champ Southern Indiana on January 2.
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
