Golden Eagle women fall at Little Rock
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Thursday’s contest at Little Rock certainly was uncharacteristic as the home squad’s defense made the Tennessee Tech women’s basketball team work for every point. The Golden Eagles tried to rally in the final quarter, but it just wasn’t enough as Little Rock held on for a 51-44 victory. Tech falls to 10-3 overall, 3-1 in the Ohio Valley Conference, while the Trojans improve to 6-7 on the season, 2-1 in the league.
By Thomas Corhern, TTU Athletics Media Relations
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Thursday's contest at Little Rock certainly was uncharacteristic as the home squad's defense made the Tennessee Tech women's basketball team work for every point. The Golden Eagles tried to rally in the final quarter, but it just wasn't enough as Little Rock held on for a 51-44 victory.
Tech falls to 10-3 overall, 3-1 in the Ohio Valley Conference, while the Trojans improve to 6-7 on the season, 2-1 in the league.
Shooting troubles created by a scrappy Little Rock defense left Tech hitting just 26.3 percent from the field, 19.0 percent from 3-point range and 62.5 from the free throw stripe
A tough third quarter saw Little Rock take advantage as the host Trojans outscored Tech 14-5 as the Golden Eagles just could not get anything to fall, shooting 2-for-15 in the period from the field, 0-for-4 from 3-point range and 1-for-4 at the free-throw line in an uncharacteristic series of events. Tech shot identical 4-for-15 efforts in the second and fourth quarters.
By the end of the quarter, Little Rock led by six to erase the Golden Eagles' slim halftime advantage.
The Trojans extended their lead to eight, but Tech started to chip away with a 3-pointer from Cam Mathews, a jumper by Reghan Grimes and a free throw for Amelia Pfeiffer.
Destinee Salgado put Little Rock back up with just over two minutes remaining, then a travel call took the ball back out of Tech's hands with 97 ticks left. Grimes and Mathews put pressure on a Little Rock player to force a timeout, then Pfeiffer pulled down the rebound on Salgado's attempt.
With 1:04 left, Tech still trailed by six. Reagan Hurst drove into the lane to get a layup with a minute left, but Salgado hit a layup and drew a foul, sinking the free throw to put the Trojans up 49-42 with 37.2 seconds on the clock.
On the inbounds pass, Mya Cotto intercepted the ball and Hurst had no choice but to foul to try to get the ball back after the resulting shots. Cotto hit both to make it a nine-point Trojan advantage.
Chloe Larry hit two of three free throws with 13.3 left to cut it to 51-44, which became the final margin at the buzzer.
Hurst led the Golden Eagles in scoring with 16 points, while Larry finished with nine points. Mathews chipped in with seven and Grimes posted six. LaReesha Cawthorn led the team with seven boards.
Little Rock got a pair of double-doubles as Jordan Holman led the way with 20 points and 11 rebounds, followed by Salgado with 13 points and 12 boards.
Tech returns to action in a week as it travels to Eastern Illinois next Thursday, then to Western Illinois next Saturday. The Golden Eagles return to the Eblen Center on January 15 as they host Southern Indiana.
Tickets for Tennessee Tech basketball are on sale now – call (931) 372-3940, visit the Hooper Eblen Center ticket office or order online at TTUsports.com.
Photo | Thomas Corhern, TTU Athletics Media Relations
