Golden Eagles build early lead, hold on for 63-56 win over UTM
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - Meagan Lyons inched closer to 1,000 points
and Blair Bowens climbed over 900 points, and the two seniors keyed
a strong first half that carried Tennessee Tech to a 63-56 Ohio
Valley Conference victory over UT Martin Thursday night in Eblen
Center.
The win wasn't without drama, as UT Martin pulled to within three
points in the final three minutes on a 3-pointer by Sienna Forney
before Bowens scored the final four points of the game.
With Tech up by just three points, Lyons made a key play to save a
ball from going out of bounds, and the Golden Eagles used that
critical possession to get a driving layup from Bowens.
Lyons scored 10 in the first period and finished with 19 points,
raising her career total to 992 points. Bowens had 11 first-half
markers and wound up leading the Golden Eagles with 21 points. That
bumped her career total to 914.
Lyons also tied a career-high with eight assists and added five
steals. Bowens had five rebounds, three assists and two steals.
Tech also got 13 points and nine rebounds from junior Vivian
Nwosu.
Three players scored in double figures for the Skyhawks, led by
Sienna Forney and Yalonda Davis with 15 each, and Alisha Glover
with 13.
Tech has now won 11 of the past 12 games over UT Martin, and
improved the all-time series record to 41-12. Tech snapped a
seven-game losing streak to improve to 2-4 in OVC play and 4-13
overall.
UT Martin slipped to 0-6 within the league and 2-14 overall.
Tech shot 54.5 percent in the first half - a mark topped only twice
this year by the Golden Eagles -- and that accuracy, coupled with a
defense that forced 11 UTM turnovers, allowed coach Amy Brown's
team to build an early cushion.
The Golden Eagles owned the first eight minutes of the game,
rolling to a 10-0 lead before UTM dented the scoreboard. Tech's
lead was 20-11 with 12 minutes to play in the period after hitting
four of their first six 3-pointers. Tech started the game 6-for-9
from the field during that span.
The Golden Eagles cooled off a little - only a little -- after
that, and maintained their advantage in double figures until the
break. The lead grew to 16 points when Lyons drained a baseline
jumper to make it 29-13.
Phyllisha Mitchell hit a 3-pointer to spark a surge by UT Martin.
She had five points during a 9-2 Skyhawk run to trim the difference
to nine points, 31-22, with 4:03 to play before Tech pushed it back
to double figures.
Nwosu scored the final four points of the half and Tech closed the
period on a 5-0 run to head into the dressing room with a 14-point
lead, 36-22.
The Skyhawks pulled the lead down to four points, 47-43, on a layup
by Glover with 10:33 remaining, but Tech responded with a 10-2 run
to regain a double-figure edge.
Once again, UT Martin came battling back, going on an 11-2 rally to
get it down to 59-56. Forney scored seven of those points,
including the bomb with 2:55 left that made it a one-possession
contest.
With a minute to play, Jasmine White attempted a shot as the
30-second clock wound down. It hit the rim and was heading out of
bounds in the corner where Lyons leaped and snared it, turned and
fired it back to White. Tech got the ball to Bowens, who split the
defense for a layup and some breathing room.
After hitting 54.5 percent in the first half, Tech shot 33.3 in the
second half and finished the game at 45 percent. The Golden Eagles
had only 11 turnovers.
UT Marin hit 40 percent in the first half and a blazing 77.8
percent in the second half, finishing the game with a 50 percent
mark. The Skyhawks held a 26-22 edge in rebounds.
The next action for the Golden Eagles will put Tech in the national
spotlight as ESPNU will show Saturday's game against Murray State
to a nationwide audience. Tipoff in Eblen Center is at 5:05, and
doors to the arena open at 4 p.m.
Saturday is "Pack the House" Night, with several special events and
activities planned. For ticket information, call (931) 372-3940 or
visit the Athletics Ticket Office in Eblen Center Friday during
regular business hours.
