February 11, 2012

Tech’s scoring runs are too much for Tennessee State to overcome

The Tennessee Tech women’s basketball team put together a pair of lengthy scoring runs to thwart Tennessee State Saturday evening in Nashville, as the Golden Eagles rolled to a 78-66 victory

Tennessee Tech

13-14, 9-4 OVC

Tennessee State

8-18, 4-10 OVC

Final	1	2	T
Tennessee Tech 13-14, 9-4 OVC	36	42	78
Tennessee State 8-18, 4-10 OVC	33	33	66

Game Leaders

Tennessee Tech

Pts: Jala Harris - 26

Reb: Molly Heady - 9

Ast: 3 Players (#10, #20, #21) - 4

Tennessee State

Pts: SHULER,Jasmin - 14

Reb: 2 Players (#33, #35) - 8

Ast: ALLEN,Rachel - 4

Team Stats

Game Statistics	Tennessee Tech	Tennessee State
Field Goals	(28-67)	(25-58)
Field Goal %	41.8%	43.1%
Rebounds	50	32
Assists	13	12
Turnovers	16	16
Pts off Turnovers	18	18
2nd Chance Pts	8	7
Pts in the Paint	38	28
Fastbreak Pts	8	4
Bench Pts	18	21

Full stats

NASHVILLE --- The Tennessee Tech women's basketball team put together a pair of lengthy scoring runs to thwart Tennessee State Saturday evening in Nashville, as the Golden Eagles rolled to a 78-66 victory.

Tech's road win over TSU is its fifth Ohio Valley Conference road victory of the season, and seventh overall victory on the road. The Golden Eagle win brings their season record to 13-14, as they now sit alone in third place in the OVC standings with a 9-4 league record.

A three-headed monster harried the Tigers all night long as Jala Harris, Tacarra Hayes and Briana Jordan poured in a combined 57 points, as they connected on a combined 19-of-34 (.558) shots from the field to go along with a 16-of-17 performance from the charity stripe.

It was Harris who provided the biggest punch for Tech as she established a new career-high at Tech with 26 points that was bolstered by a perfect 9-of-9 showing from the line. Of her 26 points, 15 came in the second half as she helped stymie TSU's comeback late in the second frame.

Hayes did most of her damage in the second half as well as she notched 13 of her 19 total points in the second half. Jordan, who tallied 12 points in the contest, added five points and three rebounds in the second half as well.

Down 24-17 with 8:47 remaining in the first half, TTU dropped in 16 unanswered points in just over three minutes to take a nine-point lead at 33-24. Harris and Hayes provided a good chunk of the offense as they each tallied in five points.

TSU was able to rally late in the first half as it managed to pull within three at 36-33 as the teams headed into the locker room.

The Tigers reclaimed the lead quickly in the second half as they held a four-point lead at 56-52 with 10:38 left in the game. Undaunted, the Golden Eagles put together another impressive run as they rang off 14 straight points to take a 10-point lead at 66-56.

The Tigers managed to get back within five at 71-66 with just over a minute to play, but a clutch three from Rachel Glidden ended any hope of a comeback as the Golden Eagles rolled on to the 78-66 win.

TTU won the battle of the rebounds as it brought down 50 to TSU's 32. Tech also dished out 13 assists and forced 16 Tiger turnovers.

Molly Heady posted a game-high nine rebounds, while Kellie Cook followed close behind with eight.

The Tigers were led by Jasmin Shuler as she posted 14 points, while Simone Hopes tallied 11 points and eight rebounds.

The Golden Eagles are back in action Monday as the host OVC leading Eastern Illinois. The opening tip is set for 7 p.m.