Tech women set for championship duel against UT-Martin

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Tennessee Tech women's basketball team looks to complete its return to glory as it enters Saturday's Ohio Valley Conference Championship game against UT-Martin at 3 p.m. at Municipal Auditorium.

A win would guarantee Tech a spot in the NCAA Tournament.

The top-seeded Golden Eagles defeated Austin Peay 65-56 on Friday to advance to the title contest.

Tech split the regular-season series with UT-Martin with each home team winning its game. The Golden Eagles beat Martin in Cookeville in January 74-57 before the Skyhawks topped Tech in February, ending its 10-game conference win streak. Freshman Briana Jordan led the Golden Eagles in the series with 30 points. Junior Brittany Darling posted a double-double in the game at UT-Martin, tallying 12 points and 11 rebounds in her 22 minutes on the floor.

UT-Martin has won 11 of its last 13 games with its two losses coming on the road at Austin Peay and Eastern Illinois. The Golden Eagles have won 14 of their last 16 contests.

Tech has won nine tournament championships, the most in OVC history, including seven out of nine from 1986-87 to 1994-95. The Golden Eagles also won back-to-back titles in 1998-99 and 1999-00.

Over the course of the postseason tournament, which started in the 1981-82 season, Tech has posted a 42-19 record. The only other team with a winning tournament record is Austin Peay (24-12).

Tech has lost each of the last two times it has made it to the championship game, once to Southeast Missouri in 2006 and to Austin Peay in 2001.

The Golden Eagle men have also advanced to the championship game. They will face Morehead State at 7 p.m.

Listen to the action on the Golden Eagle Sports Network with Roger Ealey calling the action. In addition to the radio, the broadcast can be heard via Free Teamline on either the telephone or the Internet. The women's game is also being televised on ESPN3.