By Thomas Corhern, TTU Athletics Media Relations
MARTIN, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech women's basketball team got a much-needed win on Thursday night to keep their hopes of an Ohio Valley Conference tournament bid alive as the Golden Eagles rallied back in the second half to beat UT Martin 80-68.
Tech improves to 15-13 overall, 8-11 in the OVC. The Golden Eagles enter Saturday's finale with a one-game lead over SIUE and Southeast Missouri, both at 7-12.
Tech can still finish as high as sixth in the conference race, but can also find itself eliminated if both the Redhawks and the Cougars win on Saturday to force a three-way tie. The Golden Eagles, however, can still make the field with a loss and an SIUE loss.
It was a long-range assault as Tech was 14-for-30 from beyond the arc as Chloe Larry knocked down five and Reagan Hurst and Cam Mathews each knocked down four.
Tech was able to get the upper hand early on, outscoring the Skyhawks 18-12 as the Golden Eagles knocked down seven shots including a trio of 3-pointers.
UTM (13-15, 9-10 OVC), however, went on a tear in the second quarter, putting up 26 points in the period to Tech's 18. Sidni Middleton led the Skyhawk charge with eight points, while Brittani Wells tabbed in seven as UTM shot a scorching 78.6 percent, hitting 11 of 14 from the field. Tech went 6-for-21.
With the Skyhawks leading 38-36 at the intermission, the Golden Eagles flipped the script in the third quarter, surging ahead with a 26-17 period, powered by nine points for LaReesha Cawthorn.
The Skyhawks took a blow in the middle of the third as Middleton went down with an apparent ankle injury that sidelined her for the rest of the contest, ending the night with eight points.
Tech kept building the lead in the fourth, extending its advantage to 12 points and never looked back.
Larry ended the game with a team-best 19 points, while Hurst scored 17. Cawthorn recorded her eighth double-double of the season as she scored 13 points and pulled down 15 boards, while swatting five shots. Mathews ended the game with 12 points. Amaya Redd narrowly missed a double-double of her own as she had nine points and 10 rebounds.
Kenley McCarn led UTM with 21 points.
The Golden Eagles close out the regular season on Saturday at Southeast Missouri. Tipoff is set for 1:30 PM.
Photo | Thomas Corhern, TTU Athletics Media Relations
