Golden Eagles claim 800th all-time victory with 32-point win at Jacksonville State
JACKSONVILLE, Tenn. – It’s an elite list that
includes only a few schools -- Tennessee, Louisiana Tech, Old
Dominion, Stephen F. Austin, James Madison and Texas.
And now, add Tennessee Tech.
The Golden Eagles became only the seventh Division I women’s
basketball program in history to record 800 all-time victories.
Coach Amy Brown’s team did it Saturday afternoon at
Jacksonville State with a convincing 78-46 Ohio Valley Conference
victory over the Gamecocks in the final regular season game of the
year. Blair Bowens scored a career-best 31 to pace Tech. “I
told the kids yesterday at practice that they have a chance to make
history for the program,” said Brown. “It’s great
to have this momentum, being able to win by that margin only gives
us confidence.”
Tech (9-20/7-11 OVC) has won five of its last seven games heading
into the OVC Tournament, which begins next Tuesday. Tech is the No.
7 seed and will play at (either Eastern Illinois or Tennessee
State).
“Out kids believe we are the hottest team in the conference
right now,” Brown said. “We can enjoy it today, but
tomorrow we have to get back to work and get ready for
Tuesday.”
Bowens and her teammates are looking forward to the tournament.
“I’m really excited that we’re hot right now
heading into the tournament,” said Bowens.” The thing
about the tournament is it’s a whole new season.”
Tech improved to 5-2 in February by controlling the boards and
using a familiar formula against the Gamecocks – lots of
clutch scoring from Bowens and balance from the rest of the
lineup.
For the fifth time in Bowens’ career, the Tuscumbia, Ala.,
native upped her career-high against Jacksonville State, this time
scorching the nets for 31 points including 6-for-10 from long
range.
“It was my last trip to Alabama, so it was nice to be able to
do that and get a win,” Bowens said. She scored 24 earlier
this year against the Gamecocks.
Freshman Krystal Stirrup added 11 points and eight rebounds, while
Jasmine White and Vivian Nwosu scored 10 apiece.
“We got really strong play from the post,” Brown said.
“They combined for 37 points and 24 rebounds.”
Tech also limited the Gamecocks to 33.3 percent shooting accuracy
and had a 42-32 advantage in rebounds.
“Blair played phenomenal, especially shooting the
basketball,” Brown said. “But, you have to give credit
to her teammates, too. They are the ones who got her the ball when
she was open, and she was able to knock down her shots.”
Bowens had 13 in the first half and five other players were in on
the scoring as Tech took control of the game and built a
double-digit advantage that was as large as 15 points in the final
four minutes of the period.
Down 8-4 early, Bowens it a 3-pointer to start a 13-0 run that
ended when she scored a jumper five minutes later to make it 17-8.
When Krystal Stirrup hit two free throws with 4:14 remaining, Tech
was on top by a 28-13 margin.
Jacksonville State came back with a 6-0 run to make it a nine-point
game, 28-19, before heading to the locker room with the Golden
Eagles owning a 31-19 edge. Tech had a 25-14 advantage in rebounds
in the first 20 minutes. The Tech defense also limited JSU to 27.3
percent shooting in the opening half (6-for-22).
That halftime lead was a good omen for Tech – the Golden
Eagles have owned the lead at the intermission in all nine of their
wins this year.
Bowens and Meagan Lyons hit 3-pointers to start the second half
scoring and the lead was up to 18 points. The lead remained in the
teens for the first nine minutes of the half, and jumped to 21
points with 11:10 remaining on another 3-pointer by Bowens to make
it 55-34.
With 4:06 remaining, Tacarra Hayes made a free throw to crank
Tech’s lead to 30 points for the first time, 68-38.
The Gamecocks, who suffered their second-worst loss of the season,
were led by Destiny Lane with 10 points and eight rebounds.
Tech downed JSU 84-60 way back on Dec. 6, in the first conference
game of the year. The Golden Eagles now lead the all-time series
with JSU, 9-3.
Despite the loss, Jacksonville State will play next week in the OVC
Tournament, winning a tie-breaker with Eastern Kentucky for the No.
8 seed.
