Golden Eagle women host EKU in battle for position in OVC standings
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- Things will be heating up early in Eblen
Center Thursday night as the Eastern Kentucky Colonels come to town
to face off against the Golden Eagle women, with the two teams
currently separated by only one game in the Ohio Valley Conference
standings.
The Colonels took advantage of a 22-point performance by freshman
Kayla Drake in Kentucky on Jan. 10, and claimed a 66-50 victory
over Tech in the teams’ first meeting of the season. However,
EKU hasn’t won a game since then, dropping six straight, and
is just 1-9 on the road this year, including an 0-5 mark in OVC
play.
The Golden Eagles are coming out of a tough stretch, after playing
five of the leagues top six teams in the last five games. Tech went
0-5 in that span, including back-to-back overtime losses at Austin
Peay and Tennessee State.
Tech is led by senior Blair Bowens, who is eighth in the OVC in
scoring with 14 points per game this season. Bowens is approaching
her 1,000th career point. She has 985 career points, and needs just
15 more to join the elite 1,000-point club. A lethal shooter,
Bowens has hit 35-of-81 (.432) 3-point attempts, and 15-of-16
(.938) free throws against conference opponents. But scoring
isn’t the only thing Bowens brings to the table, averaging
3.7 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game per game.
Fellow senior Meagan Lyons recently eclipsed the 1,000-point mark,
and is putting up 9.6 points per game this season. Lyons is also
second on the team in rebounding, grabbing five boards per game.
Allison Price is leading the Golden Eagles in assists with 3.4 per
game in addition to 6.3 points from the point guard position.
The Golden Eagles got big-time production from the post position in
their last game, with center Vivian Nwosu and forward Jasmine White
each scoring in double-figures. Nwosu put up 14 and White added 10
in a tough loss at Southeast Missouri.
The Colonels are led by Drake, who is currently the OVC Freshman of
the Week after averaging 21.5 points and five rebounds in two games
last week. For the season, Drake is ranked fifth in the league in
scoring, posting 15.7 points per game, the most by any freshman in
the conference.
Colette Cole is scoring at an average of 9.9 points per game, and
averaging 6.2 rebounds per game. Nadia Mossong is averaging 9.2 ppg
and is third on the team in rebounds with 5.7 per game.
The Golden Eagles hold a 46-20 all-time advantage in the series
against Eastern Kentucky, and have won four straight at home
against the Colonels. The last time EKU beat Tech in Eblen Center
was an 80-71 Tech loss during the 2002-03 season.
The Colonels held Tech to just 50 points in their win on Jan. 10,
while Drake played all 40 minutes for EKU, and hit 4-of-10 from
3-point range, leading the Colonels to the16-point triumph. EKU was
aided by a commanding 39-24 advantage on the boards, while Tech
struggled from the free throw and 3-point lines, going just 6-of-12
in free throws, and 4-of-17 on its 3-pointers.
Nwosu hit 6-of-9 field goal attempts, and led the Golden Eagles
with 14 points, while White scored 11 points and grabbed a
team-high eight rebounds. After trailing by double-digits in the
first half, the Golden Eagles fought back and took a one-point lead
in the second half. However, Tech made only one basket in the next
12 minutes, as EKU went on an 18-6 run to take a lead it would not
give up.
EKU enters the game at 6-14 overall, and stands in seventh place at
3-8 in the OVC. Tech is just one game behind the Colonels at 2-9 in
conference play and 4-18 overall.
After facing EKU Thursday, the Golden Eagles will play host to
Morehead State Saturday night.
