Golden Eagles host Murray State in key East vs. West match-up
January 27, 2013

Golden Eagles host Murray State in key East vs. West match-up

Murray State races into the Eblen Center Monday night on a three-game winning streak, looking to knock of host Tennessee Tech in an East versus West match-up. The Golden Eagles are 1-2 in their past three games and need to play well to win a key game in Ohio Valley Conference action. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m.

Recap Box Score

 

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- Murray State races into the Eblen Center Monday night on a three-game winning streak, looking to knock of host Tennessee Tech in an East versus West match-up. The Golden Eagles are 1-2 in their past three games and need to play well to win a key game in Ohio Valley Conference action. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. 

Tennessee Tech (11-9, 5-2 OVC) vs. Murray State  (12-7, 5-3 OVC)
Monday, Jan. 28, 2013
7:00 p.m. CT
Hooper Eblen Center - Cookeville, Tenn. 

The Broadcasts
TV: none
Radio: Fox Sports Radio, 106.1 The Eagle (Roger Ealey)
Webcast: OVC Digital Network (Brandon Goodwin)
 Live Stats

Setting the Stage
 The Golden Eagles are back in the win column thanks to a dominating performance over Austin Peay Saturday. Tech is pitted against West rival Murray State, who is entering the contest hot off a three-game winning streak. Both teams have five wins over conference opponents but the Racers' wins include wins over UT Martin and Eastern Illinois, two teams the Golden Eagles have fallen two by 10+ points. 

A Glance at the 2012-13 Golden Eagles
 In four of its last five games, Tech has shot 50+ percent from the floor. Thanks to Tech's high percentage offense the Golden Eagles have acculumlated a 5-2 conference record. In the Golden Eagles last time out, seniors Kellie Cook and Jala Harris lit up the arc shooting a combined 12-15 from behind the three-point line. Cook hit 7-straight three's, only missing her first and last attempt.

Harris finished with 17 points and eight assists, just shy of her first double-double. Tech has only had one player turn in a double-double performance this season, in an exhibition game against Lee University Nov. 5.

For the past three games, the Golden Eagles have had three players score in double-figures, but Tech is only 4-4 with three players scoring double-digits, and just 1-3 in conference action. The key to the Purple and Gold's success is a balanced attack which can come from a number of guards. In the past four games, Tech has had four different leading scorers.

The anchor to the Golden Eagles is three-point shooter Lashay Davis. Davis has led the team in three's made seven different times this season, shooting at a 37.3 percent clip from behind the arc.

The Golden Eagles are still searching for consistency in the post, but thanks to a break-out game by Mariah Dean and Candace Parson against UT Martin, head coach Jim Davis adds depth to his bigs. Sophomore T'Keyah Williams continues to lead the Golden Eagles with 5.4 boards per game, and junior Molly Heady adds 4.7.

As a team, the Golden Eagles average 65.8 points, 6.5 tres, 34.6 rebounds, 12.6 assists, 7.9 steals and 2.4 blocks per game.

A Look at the Racers
 Murray State has won three-straight games in conference action, and are 4-1 in their last five games. In those past five games senior Mariah Robinson and Erika Sisk have averaged a combined 34.2 points per game, averaging 17.6 and 16.6 points per game respectively.

The Racers are averaging 68.1 points, 6.2 threes, 43.3 rebounds, 10.2 assists, 9.9 steals and 2.8 blocks per game.

Head coach Rob Cross is in his fifth season at Murray State.

Series History
 This will be the 73rd meeting between the Golden Eagles and the Racers. Tech leads the series 58-14, and is 34-3 in the Eblen Center. The Racers also have five wins over conference opponents including wins over UT Martin and Eastern Illinois, two teams the Golden Eagles have fallen two by 10+ points. 

The senior class is 4-2 against the Racers. Last season the Golden Eagles went 1-1 in a home and away series, losing at Murray State 76-72, but downed the Racers 88-51 in Cookeville.