Tech women get healthy, rout TSU - Cookeville Herald Citizen

BY BEN CRAVEN

The Tennessee Tech women’s basketball team ended its three-game losing streak Saturday as the Golden Eagles took down Ohio Valley Conference in-state rival Tennessee State 81-69 in Nashville.

The win was the second over the Tigers this regular season, and it improves the Tech women to 17-8 overall with a 10-4 conference record. Tech currently sits in fourth place of the OVC behind UT Martin (16-9, 12-2).

Tech played well offensively the entire game, but it really won the game with a surge in the third quarter.

The Golden Eagles came out of the halftime break with a 43-34 lead, but they ended up pushing that deficit all the way out to 21 points at 63-42 with a 10-0 run in the back half of the period. TSU was able to cut Tech’s advantage back down to 11 points four times and 10 points once, but the Tigers couldn’t get it back to single digits.

“I thought we were solid across the board tonight,” TTU head coach Kim Rosamond said. “I thought we rebounded the ball really well. They only had five offensive boards, and we had 11 with 18 second-chance points. The key down the stretch when (TSU) made their little run was free throws. That’s one of the best nights we’ve had at the line with 79 percent.”

Tech came out of the gates hot, surging to a 13-4 lead in the first three minutes. Two minutes later, the Golden Eagles’ advantage broke into double-digits (17-6), and they would push it out as far as 14 points (35-21) midway through the second quarter.

“I love the way our kids started the game,” Rosamond said. “I loved their energy, I loved their focus, and I thought it really set the tone. We needed to get off to a good start coming off the last three games, and we couldn’t afford to let doubt creep in.”

Tech’s scoring was led by Kesha Brady with four 3-pointers and 21 total points. Three other Golden Eagles scored in double digits as Akia Harris dropped 15, Mackenzie Coleman contributed 14, and Anacia Wilkinson added 10.

Harris played another huge role in the game as she flirted with a triple-double. On top of her 15 points, she led the team in rebounds with 11 and assists with eight.

Up next, Tech returns home Thursday for its second matchup with UT Martin. Tip off is set for 5:30 p.m.