RICHMOND, Ky.- 40-14, that was the biggest difference in the Eastern
Kentucky University Lady Colonels latest loss, their sixth in a row. Tennessee
Tech shot 40 (making 26) free throws to EKU's 14 (9). The difference of
17 made was the margin of victory for TTU, 86-69. After scoring the first
basket of the game, the Colonels were tied and, unfortunately, never led
in the game again. Eastern did shoot above 40 percent (40.6) for the first
time since January 23rd against Middle Tennessee, who happens
to be the opponent Saturday at 2:00. The Eaglettes shot 46.7 percent, including
53.1 in the second stanza. "Our shots just would not fall," said EKU coach
Larry Joe Inman. "We have to shoot well to be competitive and successful."
Rebounding was a minor difference in the game as Tech outgrabbed the
Colonels 47-36. "Our defense wasn't good in the second half and neither
was the rebounding," Inman said. TTU head coach Bill Worrell said "We knew
we would have to rebound well against them, because they are the top team
in the conference in that area." The first ten minutes of the game saw
the Eaglettes jump to a 23-8 lead, but Eastern closed the last ten minutes
of the half with a 22-12 run to close the score to 35-30. Tech punched
in 29 points to EKU's 18 over the second half's opening ten minutes to
lead, 64-48, and coasted to the end. Over the last quarter of the game,
TTU made 9-16 free throws and six baskets, including one 3-pointer. The
Colonels countered with 7-11 free throw shooting and seven baskets.
Eastern was led in scoring for the 20th time by Charlotte Sizemore with 18. She was followed by Zoey Artist, who tied her season high, with 16. Larrya Wall led EKU with seven rebounds, a career high. Candice Finley was next with six. Junior Diane Seng, who yearly is a thorn in the Colonels side, led the Eaglettes with 21 points. She was aided by 17 by freshman Janet Holt, 12 by Andrea Baldwin and Collin Carmichael, and 10 by Ann Parks. All but one of Tech's players that got in the game, scored for them. Baldwin and Parks were the leading rebounders with five. "We have had good balance all year," Worrell said. "We have some pretty good depth off of the bench." TTU improves to 17-8 overall and a co-league leading 13-4. Eastern falls to 11-14 and 8-9 and in sixth place in the OVC.