Ohio Valley Conference

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - The cheers of the Upper Cumberland's youth filled the air in the Hooper Eblen Center on Friday morning as the Tennessee Tech women's basketball team claimed the 82-58 victory over the University of the Cumberlands on Education Day.

In all, the official attendance of the game was stated as 6,024 – just 89 spectators away from tying the program's attendance record in the Hooper Eblen Center. The current record is 6,113 as the Golden Eagles defeated Middle Tennessee 79-69 on Feb. 3, 1990.

True freshman Chloe Larry paced the Golden Eagles (6-3) with 23 points, shooting 7-for-12 from the field, including 3-of-6 from long range, and 6-for-7 at the free-throw line. The Bossier City, La., native also collected five rebounds and three assists.

Four other Tech players scored in double figures as Anna Walker had 14 points, eight rebounds, three steals, two blocks and an assist, while also going 6-for-6 at the stripe. Reghan Grimes, fresh off a 26-spot at Colorado on Tuesday, added 14 points on 6-for-9 shooting and 2-for-3 at the line with three rebounds, a block and a steal.

Taris Thornton scored 13 points for Tech, including a 6-for-9 day at the free-throw line, with seven boards, two assists, two blocks and two steals. Keeley Carter also reached the double-digit mark with 10 points, dishing out five assists and collecting a steal.

Cumberlands (10-1 – Friday's game does not count against their record as it was an exhibition contest for the Patriots) fought hard against Tech and even outscored the Golden Eagles in the third quarter 18-17. UC had a tough day at the free-throw line, shooting 15-of-30, which could have potentially made the deficit single-digits with a better day.

That said, the Patriots showed why they are ranked No. 7 in the NAIA with strong performances from their roster. Kassie Monday led UC with 20 points, shooting 6-for-12 from the field and 8-for-12 at the line as she also dished out six assists. Twin sister Kaylie Monday had 14 points on 5-for-10 shooting with three 3-pointers while pulling down a team-high eight assists with a steal.

The Golden Eagles made Cumberlands work for its points, holding the Patriots well under their 97.3 points-per-game average as UC shot 36.4 percent from the field, 20.0 from 3-point range and 50.0 at the line. Tech also forced the Patriots into 17 turnovers, which were converted into 21 points.

Tech, on the other hand, shot 44.1 percent from the field, 38.1 percent from long range and 75.9 from the line as the Golden Eagles were 22-for-29 at the charity stripe. Tech shot 56.3 percent in the first quarter as it outscored the Patriots 27-15 in the opening quarter to surge out to a strong start and never looked back.

With the victory, the Golden Eagles finish the non-conference slate tied for the fewest losses in a regulation season, joining the 1997-98, 2005-06, 2010-11 and 2018-19 squads who all only had three out-of-league defeats. Tech went 3-2 in non-conference in the COVID-shortened season of 2020-21, but it was a limited schedule.

EASTERN ILLINOIS 73, INDIANA STATE 60
CHARLESTON, Ill. - Kiyley Flowers scored ten of her 13 points in the opening quarter sparking a 23-7 opening frame as the Panthers eventually picked up a 73-60 win over Indiana State on Friday evening at Groniger Arena.
 
Flowers scored eight of the Panthers first 11 points as they opened the game with a 13-0 run before Indiana State cracked the scoreboard on free throws by Semie Brar with 5:31 to play in the opening quarter.  Flowers hit back-to-back 3-pointers followed by a lay-up off one of Flowers four steals in the game.
 
The Panthers eventually pushed the lead to 20-2 on a bucket by Tiny Lewis with 3:13 left in the quarter.  The Sycamores would not get their first field goal of the game until the 1:52 mark of the first quarter on a jumper by Deja Jones.
 
As a team EIU finished with 19 steals while forcing 30 Indiana State turnovers.  EIU scored 33 points off those 30 turnovers.  Alex Rouse had a team high five steals to go with 12 points. 
 
EIU led 38-23 at the half and had the lead balloon to as high as 26 points with 1:53 left in the third quarter on a lay-up by Macy McGlone.  McGlone led all players with 26 points going 10-of-15 from the floor.
 
The Panthers kept Indiana State at a double digit distance most of the game with the Sycamores making one late charge in the fourth quarter where they trimmed the lead to down to nine on free throws by Saige Stahl with 3:45 left in the game.  Stahl was 8-of-8 at the stripe finishing with 14 points.
 
Indiana State finished the game 22-of-27 at the free throw line.  Chloe Williams led the Sycamores with 18 points.
 
EIU improved to 3-5 on the season.  ISU fell to 2-6.

CINCINNATI 95, WESTERN ILLINOIS 52
CINCINNATI, Ohio - Western Illinois University Women's Basketball dropped their second game of the season on the road against Cincinnati on Friday. Despite their efforts, the Leathernecks fell short, losing 95-52.

WIU saw game highs in the first and third quarters, scoring 14 and 18 points, respectively. Despite the loss, Raegan McCowan and Mia Nicastro both notched double-doubles on the night. McCowan had 14 points, and 12 rebounds, and Nicastro had 10 points and 11 rebounds. Addi Brownfield added eight points on the night.

The team struggled from the three-point line against Cincinnati, going just 4 of 21. Defensively, the Leathernecks forced 10 turnovers on the night. 

Cincinnati's sharp shooting and time spent at the free throw line made the difference in the difference in the game. Cincinnati shot 28-62 (45.2%) from the floor and went 31 for 37 (44%) from the free throw line. The Bearcats bench had 20 points compared to the Leathernecks 15.