Tech women start Kentucky swing Thursday at Morehead State
January 6, 2021

Tech women start Kentucky swing Thursday at Morehead State

MOREHEAD, Ky. – When the Tennessee Tech women tip off on Thursday afternoon at Morehead State, it will be the first game since December 19 for the homestanding Eagles. Holiday aside, the extended break saw a game against Bellarmine canceled and a contest against SIUE postponed. Now, nearly 18 days later, they’ll entertain the Golden Eagles. Tipoff on Wednesday is slated for 3 p.m. Central time. Roger Ealey will provide the call for 106.1 The Eagle, while Jack Kizer will handle play-by-play duties for ESPN+ (subscription required).

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GAME NOTES -- Game 7 at Morehead State (PDF)

By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information

MOREHEAD, Ky. – When the Tennessee Tech women tip off on Thursday afternoon at Morehead State, it will be the first game since December 19 for the homestanding Eagles.

Holiday aside, the extended break saw a game against Bellarmine canceled and a contest against SIUE postponed. Now, nearly 18 days later, they'll entertain the Golden Eagles.

Tipoff on Thursday is slated for 3 p.m. Central time. Roger Ealey will provide the call for 106.1 The Eagle, while Jack Kizer will handle play-by-play duties for ESPN+ (subscription required).

Standing as one of the longest-running series in Tech's all-time history, the Golden Eagles own a 61-29 record against Morehead State. Tech head coach Kim Rosamond is 3-6 against MSU, but took both meetings in the 2019-20 campaign to take back-to-back wins in the series for the first time since 2013-14.

Meanwhile, Morehead State is entering Thursday's contest with a 1-5 mark, 0-2 in the Ohio Valley, with both losses coming at the hands of Eastern Kentucky, falling 50-49 at home in Johnson Arena on Dec. 11, then 74-59 at Richmond just three days later.'

The Eagles' lone win came on December 15 against Transylvania with losses to Dayton, Lipscomb and Bowling Green also peppering their slate.

Ole Miss transfer Gabby Crawford, a redshirt sophomore, leads Morehead in scoring with a 12.0-point average, while sophomore Ariel Kirkwood is averaging 10.5 points and 9.7 rebounds a game, better than her career average of 10.4 points and 8.7 rebounds. Kirkwood also brings a significant defensive presence, blocking 24 shots this season for 106 in her two-year career thus far as well as 12 steals.

Senior Jazzmyn Elston, who has averaged 8.8 points per game this year, still maintains a career scoring average of 11.2 points per game and has been their deep-ball shooter this season, knocking down nine of 36 tries. Campbell transfer Lauren Carter is also providing a well-rounded game, averaging 7.5 points and 8.0 rebounds, with 12 steals.

Tech comes into Thursday's contest with a 4-2 mark, 2-1 in Ohio Valley play, after splitting last week's action with a home loss to Southeast Missouri (79-70), before rallying from a 15-point deficit on the road to knock off Eastern Illinois 72-67.

Senior Kesha Brady continues to lead the Golden Eagles in scoring, posting a 16.2-point average, and is second in rebounds per game with a 6.5-board clip. Middle Tennessee transfer Anna Jones leads the rebounding category with a 6.8-carom average to go along with her 10.8 point per game. Senior Mackenzie Coleman has also been a major factor inside, putting together 12.5 points and 4.2 rebounds per game, as well as seven blocks and six steals.

Brady broke the 1,000-point milestone last week to become the 32nd Golden Eagle in program history, while Coleman isn't too far behind as she tallied her 942nd point against the Panthers. Senior Jordan Brock tied assistant coach Allison Clark for career 3-pointers made with 225 and looks to take sole possession of the statistic with her next made trey.

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Photo | Sandy King, EIU Athletics