By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Despite a hamstring injury in the first game of the weekend, Tennessee Tech graduate guard Keeley Carter persevered and helped lead the Golden Eagles to two big victories over Southeast Missouri and Little Rock to stay in a tie for second place in the Ohio Valley Conference.

With that, the Lafayette native shared the OVC's Newcomer of the Week honor with Lindenwood sophomore guard Gracy Wernli.

The OVC weekly awards are nominated and voted on by the league's sports information contacts. The honor is Carter's third this season.

Averaging 26.3 minutes per game, Carter scored 25 total points with 11 rebounds while shooting .588 from the field, .429 from 3-point range and .667 at the free-throw line. Carter also collected six assists.

In the 79-66 victory over Southeast Missouri, Carter saw 24:13 of action, scoring 11 points with five rebounds and three assists, mostly in the first half as she collected one rebound and one assist in the second half before the injury ended her night.

Playing cautiously in Saturday's contest against Little Rock, Carter started off slow in the game, but exploded on the second quarter, going 3-for-4 in the period for seven points with four rebounds and two assists, then added five more points in the third quarter. Carter ended the game with 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting from the field with a 3-pointer, six rebounds and three assists in the 70-49 victory over the Trojans.

Carter has scored in double-figures in seven of her eight OVC appearances this season to lead the Golden Eagles in scoring in conference play with a 13.4-point average.

The Golden Eagles return to action this week as they travel to Tennessee State and UT Martin this week, then Morehead State and Southern Indiana next week before returning home on February 6 vs. SIUE.

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 | Jim Dillon