A match made in history: Tech hosts Middle Tennessee
November 19, 2012

A match made in history: Tech hosts Middle Tennessee

No two teams have battled more than Tennessee Tech and Middle Tennessee for the top spot in the Ohio Valley Conference in women's basketball. While it's not an OVC battle any longer, it's still one of the great rivalries in the state and it resumes Tuesday night when the Blue Raiders visit Eblen Center.

Recap Box Score

 

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- No two teams have battled more than Tennessee Tech and Middle Tennessee for the top spot in the Ohio Valley Conference in women's basketball. While the conference championship may not be on the line Tuesday night, the tradition and rivalry still stand. Tech hosts the Blue Raiders Tuesday night in the Eblen Center. Tip off is set for 5:30 p.m.

Tennessee Tech (2-1) vs. Middle Tennessee (2-1)
Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2012
5:30 p.m. CT
Eblen Center - Cookeville, Tenn.

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

Setting the Stage: 
 Tennessee Tech and Middle Tennessee State have one of the most storied rivalries in Tech basketball history. In the 1980's, the top spot in Ohio Valley Conference fell between these two teams nine times, including the 1986-87 season, when Jim Davis was at the helm of the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders. Davis was beaten by the Golden Eagles in the conference tournament championship. Both teams have found success over the past few seasons, but one thing remains the same, the rivalry between Tech and Middle is one of the greatest in the region.

The Golden Eagles hold an all-time 50-38 edge over the Blue Raiders.
Tech and Middle faced each other last season at Middle Tennessee and the Golden Eagles fell to the Blue Raiders 74-55.

A Glance at the 2012-13 Golden Eagles 
The Golden Eagles will have home court advantage for their fifth straight game. Tech faced a tough Rice team Saturday, but the team's consistent play overcame the Owls in the second half, winning 78-65. Diamond Henderson showed amazing skill scoring 21 points on the heels of a 31-point performance Tuesday in the loss against Akron.

Sophomore forward T'Keyah Williams stole the show, recording her first double-double of the season with 20 points and 11 rebounds. At the end of the game, when the Owls tried making a comeback, the ball continued to find its way into Williams' hands.

The Golden Eagles shot 48%, and drained six 3-pointers, three of them from Lashay Davis in the second half, at crucial points in the game. Davis also dished out four assists and had two steals.

The strength of Tech's team is its depth. The Golden Eagles played 11 people throughout the course of the game, and all but one player scored.

A Look at the Blue Raiders

 The Blue Raiders enter into Tuesday's game with a 2-1 record, their only loss coming to Iowa in overtime. The Blue Raiders are led by Ebony Rowe, who averages a double-double with 22 points and 11.3 rebounds per game. Two other players average double-digit points per game including Elie Icelyn who is Middle's next best rebounder averaging 8.7 rebounds per game.

For complete gamenotes, please click here.

For ticket information, visit or call the Athletics Ticket Office in Eblen Center at (931) 372-3940.