Tech women fight to overtime vs. Southern Indiana
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Battle sums up Tennessee Tech’s night against the Southern Indiana women at the Eblen Center Thursday. From start to finish, it was back and forth, squaring up at the end of the third and then again at the end of regulation. However, it all became a sprint in the overtime session and the Screaming Eagles took the lead with 25 seconds to go in the extra period, staving off the Golden Eagles to take a 71-69 win.
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
14 | 13 | 20 | 12 | 12 | 71 |
|
|
16 | 13 | 18 | 12 | 10 | 69 |
Team Stats
Southern Indiana
| Game Statistics | Southern Indiana | Tennessee Tech |
|---|---|---|
| Field Goals | (24-55) | (24-72) |
| Field Goal % | 43.6% | 33.3% |
| Rebounds | 39 | 44 |
| Assists | 14 | 11 |
| Turnovers | 21 | 18 |
| Pts off Turnovers | 17 | 18 |
| 2nd Chance Pts | 6 | 20 |
| Pts in the Paint | 34 | 34 |
| Fastbreak Pts | 13 | 11 |
| Bench Pts | 7 | 8 |
By Thomas Corhern, TTU Athletics Media Relations
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Battle sums up Tennessee Tech's night against the Southern Indiana women at the Eblen Center Thursday. From start to finish, it was back and forth, squaring up at the end of the third and then again at the end of regulation.
However, it all became a sprint in the overtime session and the Screaming Eagles took the lead with 25 seconds to go in the extra period, staving off the Golden Eagles to take a 71-69 win.
Tech (10-6, 3-4 Ohio Valley Conference) saw its program-record home winning streak come to a close, the first loss in the Hoop since Feb. 3, 2024, against Morehead State.
But that isn't the story. No, that belongs to the fight.
When Reghan Grimes sank a 3-pointer with 12 seconds remaining, the Tennessee Tech women saw an opportunity. After all, the Golden Eagles had been fighting talon to talon with Southern Indiana throughout the contest and USI had taken its largest lead of the game with 5:02 remaining in regulation.
Tech chipped away and chipped away and, in that moment, the momentum shifted. The emotions from the previous games loomed large and the Golden Eagles were determined.
With the Nashville senior's touch from the pass off Reagan Hurst, the ball fell true, erasing a fourth quarter deficit and tying the game at 59.
For the week the Golden Eagles had with illness, Thursday was a battle and they found new life.
On the opposite end, Chloe Gannon missed a layup and LaReesha Cawthorn pulled down the board as the fourth quarter clock ran out, sending the game to overtime.
The extra session opened with Amiyah Buchanan getting a three-point play on a jumper and resulting free throw, but Cam Mathews drained a pair on the Tech end, then Chloe Larry hit a layup to take a 63-62 lead.
The advantage swapped as Shannon Blacher hit a pair of charity tosses, then Cawthorn put the Golden Eagles back on top with 2:30 remaining in overtime. It was, however, Tech's last lead. Blacher put USI ahead with two more free throws with 25 seconds left.
Grimes couldn't get a layup to fall and after Blacher pulled down the board, she lost the ball to Grimes. Cawthorn attempted a layup, but it didn't go and she was called for the foul as Buchanan came down with the loose carom.
Buchanan hit both free throws to put USI up by three with 16 seconds left, then Grimes hit a layup to make it a one-point game with 10 seconds left.
Needing to foul to get the ball back, Tech put Ali Saunders on the line and she hit both throws, then USI fouled Larry, who hit both free throws with six seconds left to make it a 70-69 game. Larry fouled Blacher in return and Blacher missed the first, then hit the second.
With an offensive opportunity, Hurst got the ball and attempted a 3-pointer in front of the Tech bench, but the shot hit the rim and Buchanan grabbed the board to end the game with USI on top.
Larry led the Golden Eagles in scoring, tying her career high with 23 points on 6-for-16 shooting with three 3-pointers and an 8-for-8 night at the stripe. She also had six rebounds, two assists, three steals and a block.
Cawthorn recorded her third double-double in her rookie campaign, scoring 14 points and pulling down 16 boards with three steals and a block.
Grimes ended the game with 12 points – 10 in the second half and overtime – with a rebound, three assists and a steal. Hurst finished with 10 points, two rebounds, three assists and a steal.
For Southern Indiana (12-4, 6-1 OVC), Saunders led the way with 23 points on 7-for-14 shooting and 7-for-8 at the line, with six rebounds, eight assists and two steals. Chloe Gannon had 14 points with seven rebounds, a steal and six blocks. Sophia Loden finished with 12 points, three rebounds and one steal.
The Golden Eagles return to action Saturday as they host Morehead State at 1 PM.
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
