Posted: Jan 17, 2025
By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech women's basketball team has done a great job defending its home court this season, posting a 7-0 record in the Hooper Eblen Center. However, Saturday will bring a test to that run as the Golden Eagles host Little Rock.
Tipoff for the game is 1 p.m. Roger Ealey and Frank Harrell will broadcast the game on 106.1 The Eagle, while Dylan Vazzano and Steve Smith will narrate the action on ESPN+ (subscription required).
Tech's overall record against the Trojans since they joined the Ohio Valley Conference is 1-4, but the one is a very important one as it was a victory in the OVC Tournament that led the Golden Eagles to the 2023 championship and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
The Golden Eagles enter the game with a 5-2 mark in the league, tied with Southern Indiana and Lindenwood, trailing 7-0 Eastern Illinois and the Trojans at 6-1 in second. Little Rock has an overall record of 8-8 on the season.
As a team, Little Rock is averaging 61.8 points per game and allowing 66.9. The Trojans are shooting .393 per game, .244 from 3-point range and .700 from the free-throw line. Little Rock averages 2.9 3-pointers and 11.9 free throws per game.
The Trojans' lone OVC loss came just before Christmas as Eastern Illinois defeated Little Rock 59-56 on Dec. 21. They defeated SIUE 83-60, UT Martin 66-61, Tennessee State 67-63, Morehead State 69-59, Southern Indiana in overtime 89-83 and Southeast Missouri 67-63. One thing that's noticeable is how close the games have been against their conference foes.
Faith Lee leads Little Rock in scoring with 17.0 points per game, while Jordan Holman is averaging 11.9 points and Sug Williams 9.8. Emerald Parker leads the team with a 6.4-rebound average with Williams just behind at 5.6. Williams and Jayla Brooks have the team lead in assists with 41 each, while Brooks has a team-best 32 steals and Parker 15 steals.
Tech, meanwhile, has won seven of its last 10 games. Its two conference losses have come to Lindenwood and Eastern Illinois, both on the road. The Golden Eagles have won all three conference games at the Eblen Center with wins over Southern Indiana, Morehead State and Southeast Missouri – the latter bringing Tech its 500th OVC victory in program history.
Reghan Grimes leads the team in scoring with a 12.6-point average, while Peyton Carter (11.3 ppg) and Chloe Larry (11.1 ppg) also average double-digit scoring, while Taris Thornton (9.8 ppg), Keeley Carter (9.6 ppg) and Anna Walker (9.2 ppg) are close to the double-digit mark.
Grimes and Thornton share the team lead in steals with 30, Walker leads the team with 27 blocks, Peyton Carter has a team-best 59 assists, while Walker leads the team with a 6.9-rebound average with 110 total boards.
Following Saturday's game against the Trojans, the Golden Eagles hit the road for four straight as they head to Tennessee State and UT Martin next week, then Morehead State and Southern Indiana the following week. Tech then returns home on February 6 to take on SIUE.
Tickets for Tech basketball are on sale now – call (931) 372-3940, visit the Hooper Eblen Center ticket office or order online at TTUsports.com.
Photo | Jim Dillon
