Ohio Valley Conference

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - Tennessee Tech caught fire at just the right time on Saturday as the Golden Eagles made second-half adjustments to pull away from Morehead State, taking a 76-63 victory in the Eblen Center.
 
Tech improves to 9-4 overall, 3-1 in the Ohio Valley Conference, while Morehead State falls to 6-8, 1-3 in the league.
 
The Golden Eagles couldn't get much separation from the visiting Eagles in the first half as Tech outscored Morehead 16-10 in the opening quarter even after the visitors held a 3-point lead at the six-minute mark. Morehead State outscored Tech 17-15 in the second quarter to make it a 31-27 game at the intermission.
 
However, the Golden Eagles responded with a 17-6 run into the media timeout, scoring the first eight points of the third quarter before Morehead hit its first basket of the new half. The visitors were able to cut it down to 10 points before the quarter ended but that was the closest the game would be as Tech extended its advantage back out to 21 points with 2:44 remaining in the game.
 
Morehead State ended the game outscoring Tech 10-2 in the final 2:24.
 
The Golden Eagles had a strong second half from the field, shooting 16-for-30 and 6-for-12 from long range. Peyton Carter scored 14 of her 16 points in the second half, while Keeley Carter had 12 of her 15 points in the same span. Carter was 3-for-3 from the field, including 2-for-2 from 3-point range and 4-for-5 from the free-throw line.
 
It was a big jump from the first two quarters as the Golden Eagles shot 35.7 percent in the first half, hitting 10 of 28 shots with a 3-for-9 effort from 3 and 8-for-12 at the free-throw line. Tech finished the game shooting 44.8 percent (26-for-58) from the floor, 42.9 percent (9-for-21) from 3 and 68.2 percent (15-for-22) at the line.
 
Tech dominated the boards 48-29 as Reghan Grimes pulled down 10 caroms to go along with her 11 points to collect her second-straight double-double. Tech freshmen had great games as Chloe Larry collected 11 points with six assists and eight rebounds, while Amelia Pfeiffer scored 10 points on 5-for-9 shooting.
 
The Golden Eagles were able to overcome 20 turnovers as MSU only converted those into 10 points, while Tech scored 13 points off 11 Eagle giveaways.
 
Chrishawn Coleman finished the day with a game-best 18 points on 9-for-15 shooting. Kate Novik scored 11 points on 5-for-16 shooting, while Alyssa Berry added 11 points as she went 6-for-6 at the free-throw line.

EASTERN ILLINOIS 70, WESTERN ILLINOIS 60
CHARLESTON, Ill. - Eastern Illinois broke open a five point halftime lead with a key third quarter run on Saturday afternoon as the Panthers remained unbeaten in Ohio Valley Conference play with a 70-60 win over Western Illinois.
 
EIU moved over .500 for the first time this season at 7-6 overall, 4-0 in the OVC.  WIU fell to 7-6 overall 1-3 in the OVC.
 
EIU led 29-24 in the opening half with Lalani Ellis carrying the offensive load for EIU matching the high scoring output from the Leathernecks Raegan McGowan.
 
Ellis scored ten of her game high 23 points in the opening half for the Panthers while McCowan had 12 of her WIU leading 22 in the opening half.
 
After shooting 50 percent in the second quarter, the Panthers again shot 50 percent from the field in the third quarter extending the lead to double figures with 5:43 to play in the third on an Alex Rouse basket. 
 
The Rouse basket sparked what was a 17-2 EIU run that pushed the Panthers lead to as many as 19 points as WIU never got the margin back to single digits.
 
Macy McGlone finished with 15 points as the only other EIU player in double figures.
 
WIU cut into the final margin in the final 90 seconds with a combination of forced turnovers and made free throws hitting 14-of-17 at the line in the fourth quarter.
 
Mia Nicastro had 18 points for WIU as the only other Leathernecks player in double figures.

LINDENWOOD 85, SIUE 59
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - Lindenwood women's basketball (7-6, 3-1 OVC) earned a 73-59 victory over the Cougars of SIUE (2-11, 0-4) on Saturday in First Community Arena in Edwardsville, Ill. The Lions found offense at the foul line going 21-24, their second most made free throws in a game this season.

"Proud of our team effort today to bounce back and get a road win!" said head coach Amy Eagan. "Our kids showed a ton of grit and a refuse to lose mentality today. So many great things show on the stat sheet both offensively and defensively."

Gracy Wernli had a career-day shooting the ball after scoring a game-high 18 points on 6-12 shooting including draining three three-pointers. It marked the most points in a game in Wernli's career. She also pulled down five rebounds. After being out-rebounded in the first half, LU won the rebounding battle on Saturday 41-34 including 15 offensive rebounds, their second most this year.

Lindenwood had four total double-digit scorers against the Cougars including 14 from Mya Skoff. This marked Skoff's fourth time in her last five games she has scored in double-figures. Skoff shot 5-12 from the field while grabbing five rebounds and dishing out three assists.

Brooke Coffey also managed to get into double-figures after knocking down two late free throws. Coffey had 11 points and went a perfect 4-4 at the foul line. She was one rebound away from her second double-double of the season. She also had a team-high five assists in the win. Mykayla Cunningham also had 12 points off the bench for Lindenwood.

The Lions assisted on 14 of their 23 made field-goals on Saturday. Lindenwood cleaned up on their turnovers against SIUE only giving up 11 while forcing 14. They scored 11 points of those turnovers while SIUE scored 16. Lindenwood won the paint battle outscoring SIUE 30-26 in the department.

The Lions started out the afternoon on a 9-0 run in the first quarter including an early five points from Wernli. SIUE went 0-3 to start the game with two turnovers in the first three minutes of the ball-game. Mya Skoff and Brooke Coffey hit back-to-back long three pointers to extend the lead to 19-4, but SIUE ended the quarter on a 9-2 run to cut into the lead. During the first 10 minutes of the game, LU shot 7-14 from the field including going 3-4 from deep. SIUE was held to 6-18 shooting during the first period.
 
After Mykayla Cunningham scored the opening basket of the second quarter, SIUE went on an 8-0 run to cut the lead to two 23-21 with 7:39 remaining. Kendal George for SIUE would eventually give them the lead after a made layup with 4:00 minutes remaining in the half (27-29 SIUE).

Skoff added an and-one with 2:30 left to give the Lions to 32-31 advantage. Skoff added eight points in the first half. With under a minute remaining, SIUE tied the game with a Macy Silvey three-pointer, but Ellie Brueggemann was able to knock down a three to give the Lions to lead heading into the locker room.
 
LU shot 13-30 in the first half (43.3% FG) while making four of seven three-point attempts. They also went a perfect 7-7 from the foul line. SIUE made six threes in the first 20 minutes while also scoring eight points off turnovers. SIUE also out-rebounded the Lions in the first half 19-17.

It was a low scoring affair in the third quarter, but the Lions were able to maintain their lead. LU shot 4-12 in the quarter while scoring 10 points while SIUE went 4-16 while scoring nine. Wernli had back-to-back three pointers with 7:02 remaining in the third to give the Lions the 47-43 advantage heading into the fourth.

Lindenwood allowed the first bucket of the fourth quarter to cut the lead to two, but it was also Lindenwood after that point as the Lions went on an 11-0 run to extend their lead to 58-45 with 5:18 remaining. The Lions wasted clock while managing to make their free throws in the final frame going 14-17 in the quarter. Both teams ended the game shooting 23-59 (39.0% FG) from the floor as LU improved to 3-1 in OVC play.

UT MARTIN 85, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 69
MARTIN, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee at Martin women's basketball team scored 30 points in the fourth quarter of Saturday's game against Southeast Missouri at the Kathleen & Tom Elam Center in Martin, propelling them to an 85-69 victory over the Redhawks.

The Skyhawks never trailed in the game but could never seem to put the Redhawks away and led by just four points at the end of the third quarter. However, in the fourth, UT Martin was near perfect offensively, going 10-for-11 from the floor, 2-for-2 from 3-point range and 8-for-10 at the free throw line. The offensive clinic by the Skyhawks led to a 30-18 fourth quarter en route to the 16-point victory.

For the fifth time in the past six games, the Skyhawks shot over 50-percent from the field, finishing at 26-for-45 for 57.8-percent. UT Martin also finished shooting above 40-percent from3-point range Saturday for the sixth time this season at 43.8-percent and outrebounded their opponent for fourth time in five games at 32-28. The Skyhawks also went to the line a season-high 35 times where they converted on 26 attempts, also a season-high.

Shae Littleford and Anaya Brown combined for 43 of UT Martin's 85 points Saturday with Littleford scoring 23 and Brown adding 20. Littleford was 7-for-8 overall, 3-for-4 from beyond the arc and a perfect 6-for-6 at the free throw line, while also adding team-highs of six rebounds, three assists, three steals and one block.

Brown was highly effective as well Saturday, going 6-for-8 from the floor and 8-for-10 at the line while adding five rebounds, an assist, a steal and a block. Kenley McCarn also finished in double-digits in the game with 15 points, while Lexi Rubel tied Littleford in rebounds and assists with six and three, respectively.

LITTLE ROCK 67, TENNESSEE STATE 63
NASHVILLE - Little Rock women's basketball had a competitive third and fourth quarter, with four Trojans in double-figures, in 67-63 win over Tennessee State.

Faith Lee had another exceptional night with 23 points; her eleventh double-figure game of the season. Jordan Holman posted 18 points and four rebounds. Emerald Parker chipped in 12 points and eight rebounds, and Sug Williams had 10 points and seven rebounds.
 
The Trojans were down majority of the afternoon but found a third quarter push with 4:10 left to go. With Jayla Brooks picking TSU's pocket and Sug Williams with a layup and free throw, Trojans got their first lead of the day. It was back and forth for the rest of the third, ending the quarter tied at 55. 
 
The Trojans got the first hit in the fourth quarter when Faith Lee made two free throws after a foul from Saniah Parker. Jayla Brooks got on the board with a layup with 5:43 left to go, after Jordan Holman's defensive rebound.
 
The Trojans and Tigers were neck and neck through the fourth, with three tied scores at 59, 61, and 63.
 
Little Rock finally took the lead back at the 1:46 mark, when Emerald Parker dominated in the paint with a rebound and putback off Jordan Holman's shot. Faith Lee put the nail in the coffin with a jumper and free throws made, ending the game with a Trojan win.
 
The Trojans defense was on fire in the second half of game play, holding the Tigers to just 20% shooting in the fourth.
 
Little Rock forced 23 turnovers, scoring 23 points from those turnovers, and made 19 of 21 free throws to seal the deal.
 
Tennessee State was led by Somah Kamara with 19 points and Saniah Parker with 14 points. Lyric Cole was a big help for the Tigers with 11 points and 11 rebounds but ultimately left the game in the fourth quarter due to injury.