By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE – It's a huge contest at the Hooper Eblen Center on Saturday as the Tennessee Tech women's basketball team hosts Eastern Illinois with first place in the Ohio Valley Conference on the line.
Both the Panthers and the Golden Eagles are among the three-way tie for the top spot – in addition to Lindenwood – with the season rushing toward its postseason showdown in Evansville. There's still a few weeks to go, but any momentum will be huge down the stretch.
Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. Saturday with Roger Ealey and Frank Harrell on the call on 106.1 The Eagle and Dylan Vazzano and Steve Smith narrating the action on ESPN+ (subscription required).
Tech's already got a little bit of momentum on its side, winning 13 straight home games and eight straight games in a row. However, the Golden Eagles also have a chance to try to enact a little revenge after a tough night in Charleston in the previous meeting.
EIU (14-8, 11-2 OVC) won that contest 71-40 as the Golden Eagles put together one of its lowest offensive performances in program history, shooting an uncharacteristic 28.6 percent from the field and 10.0 percent from 3-point range. The Panthers forced Tech into 19 turnovers, converting those into 29 points.
Macy McGlone had a big night as she scored 16 points on 7-for-14 shooting, pulled down 11 rebounds, dished out five assists, blocked five shots and had one steal as she was a one-woman wrecking crew in the January contest. Kiyley Flowers also scored in double-digits, posting 10 points.
Taris Thornton had the best night against the Panthers as she scored 13 points against her former team, while Peyton Carter scored nine and Chloe Larry eight.
EIU poured on four more victories but saw their undefeated conference streak come to an end with a 62-52 loss at Western Illinois, then a 57-55 defeat at Lindenwood last Saturday. The Panthers returned to the win column Tuesday, but it was in a 67-61 victory in overtime against an SIUE team that the Golden Eagles beat 80-54 two nights later on Thursday.
Being back home may have helped Tech on Thursday after a four-game road trip. The Golden Eagles shot 42.2 percent from the field against the Cougars as five Tech players scored in double-figures, paced by Reghan Grimes with 15 points, Peyton Carter with 14, Anna Walker with 13, Larry with 12 and Thornton with 10.
Tech, as a team, shot 42.2 percent from the field and knocked down 13 3-pointers. In the last two games, the Golden Eagles have blocked 19 shots – including a program-record 10 for Walker against Southern Indiana. Tech also went to the line 17 times Thursday, knocking down 13 shots.
Saturday's game is also the annual Play 4 Kay contest as fans are encouraged to wear pink and support the efforts of cancer research in honor of the late women's basketball coaching legend.
Following Saturday's game, the Golden Eagles will hit the road for the final time in the regular season as they head to Little Rock and Southeast Missouri before coming home for the final four games of the campaign.
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
