February 1, 2011

First-place Golden Eagles return home to host Eastern Kentucky

Riding its longest winning-streak -seven- since the 2005-06 season, the Tennessee Tech women’s basketball team returns home for a pair of Ohio Valley Conference games Thursday, beginning with Eastern Kentucky

To view game notes click here

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Riding its longest winning-streak -seven- since the 2005-06 season, the Tennessee Tech women's basketball team returns home for a pair of Ohio Valley Conference games Thursday, beginning with Eastern Kentucky.

Should Tech defeat EKU, it would clinch a spot in the OVC Tournament.

This will be the 51st meeting between the Golden Eagles and the Colonels, with TTU owning the series edge at 49-21. Tech began its seven-game winning streak against EKU in early January as it took the 69-58 decision in Richmond, Ky.

Five Golden Eagles reached double-figures in points against the Colonels in their last encounter including sophomore guard Kellie Cook and freshman guard Briana Jordan, who tallied a team-high 15 points each.

Tech (16-4, 10-1 OVC) recently wrapped up a perfect 4-0 road trip with its 69-59 victory over Southeast Missouri Saturday. Freshman forward Molly Heady posted a career-high with 20 points, while junior guard Tacarra Hayes notched her sixth career double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds.

Hayes, who leads the team in scoring with 295 points, now sits 22 points away from joining the TTU 1,000-point club. Should she reach 1,000 points, she would become the 26th player in Tech history to reach the 1,000-point plateau. The last Golden Eagle to achieve this feat was Blair Bowens back in the 2008-09 season.

Eastern Kentucky is 6-14 on the season and presently sits in eighth place in the OVC with a 3-8 conference record. The Colonels have won their last two games against Austin Peay and Tennessee State, the latter of which coming in double-overtime, but have yet to win an OVC game on the road.

Opening tip between the Golden Eagles and the Colonels is set for 5:30 p.m., at Eblen Center.

Thursday's doubleheader features several promotions including Military Appreciation Night, Academic Excellence Night and Upward Basketball Night. For more information on these events follow the link here. Tech student-athletes wil also be at the Eblen Center for the Hoops for Heroes. For more information on the Hoops for Heroes initiative click here.

In addition, the first 1,500 fans at Eblen Center will receive a Cumberland Insurance Purple Pride Towel.

Fan who cannot attend the game can view the livestats at the link here or listen to the game on the Golden Eagle Sports Network and via free Teamline on the Internet or by telephone. The game will also be televised by WCTE TV.