By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The streak continues -- Tennessee Tech powered their way to an 84-71 victory over Tennessee State on Saturday with an army of alumni in attendance, watching the Golden Eagle women dominate the contest in the Eblen Center.
With the victory, the Golden Eagles (22-5, 16-2 Ohio Valley Conference) extend their winning streak to 13 straight games – standing alone as the fourth-longest winning streak in program history. The win also marks the 16th straight home win for the Tech women as they inch closer to the program-record of 23 straight in the Eblen Center.
The 16th conference win of the season is the most in head coach Kim Rosamond's tenure and ties the 1999-2000 and 2005-06 Tech women's teams for the most in a single season – with two OVC contests to go.
And on Saturday, probably the most important of all at the moment, the Golden Eagles are assured of a double-bye in the Ohio Valley Conference Basketball Championships in Evansville. Eastern Illinois fell to Morehead State on Saturday afternoon, putting the Panthers back three games from Tech and Lindenwood.
Both the Golden Eagles and the Lions have one contest remaining before Saturday's showdown as both teams take on Western Illinois with Lindenwood traveling to Macomb on Tuesday before heading to Cookeville on Saturday, while Tech hosts the Leathernecks on Thursday.
On Saturday, the mission for the Golden Eagles was to avoid the trap and keep focused on the mission. Tech did just that. Even after TSU (8-20, 4-14 OVC) rallied from an early deficit, the Golden Eagles urge out to an 11-point lead before the close of the first quarter, outscoring the Tigers 23-15.
Reghan Grimes helped pace Tech with seven points on 3-for-4 shooting in the opening quarter, aided by five points from Keeley Carter. The Golden Eagles drained eight shots in the period, including three from long range.
Tech extended its lead to 16 points just before the intermission and held a 43-31 advantage at the break. The Golden Eagles posted identical 20-16 quarters over TSU in the second and third, increasing the margin to 63-47 through three.
Anna Walker cleaned the glass in the third quarter as she pulled down eight rebounds in the penultimate period, later finishing with a career-high 16 caroms in the contest.
Tech reached a 23-point lead just before the final media timeout leading to late substitutions. TSU chipped the margin down to 13 points late, but the game was well in hand by that point.
Five Golden Eagles finished the game with double-digit scoring, led by Keeley Carter with 18 points on 5-for-6 shooting and 4-for-4 from 3-point range, while also standing perfect with a 4-for-4 effort at the free-throw line. Taris Thornton scored 15 points and collected seven rebounds.
Peyton Carter and Grimes each had 14 points in the game with Carter knocking down three treys. Walker completed her sixth career double-double – and fourth this season – as she scored 12 points.
The Golden Eagles converted 12 TSU turnovers into 24 points in the game and also controlled the glass, outrebounding State 41-27. Chloe Larry also led Tech with eight assists as she nearly had an unconventional double-double with nine points, collecting half of the Golden Eagles' dimes in the game.
Somah Kamara led TSU with 24 points, while Aaniya Webb collected 10 points. Lyric Cole led the Tigers with 11 rebounds.
Tickets for the final two home games in the Hooper Eblen Center this season as the Golden Eagles march ever closer to their 19th OVC regular-season championship and first since 2013. Call (931) 372-3940, visit the Eblen Center ticket office or order online at TTUsports.com.
Photo | Jim Dillon
