TSU Lady Tigers begin three-game home stand with Tenn. Tech

GAMEDAY

The Tennessee State University women's basketball team will return to action at home when the Lady Tigers host Tennessee Tech in the first contest of a three-game home stint to close out the regular season. Game time vs. Tech is set for 5:30 p.m. in the Gentry Center.

THE LADY TIGERS AT A GLANCE
Tennessee State (8-17, 4-9 OVC) has dropped four out of its last five, including four straight. The Lady Tigers are recently coming off a, 66-56, loss to Murray State on the road. TSU has a 4-9 OVC mark and sits in eighth place in the standings. With a 5-5 home record this season, the Lady Tigers will look to add one to the win column and stay in the OVC tournament hunt against Tennessee Tech.

As a team, TSU is averaging 68.3 points per outing while shooting 36.5 percent from the field and 28.3 percent from beyond the arc. TSU is currently shooting only 65.9 percent from the free-throw line while committing an average of 18.7 turnovers per game.

TSU averages 43.8 rebounds, 12.9 assists and 8.2 steals per game.

LAST TIME OUT
Tennessee State dropped its fourth straight contest with a, 66-56, loss to Murray State on the road. The game was close throughout the contest until the Racers used a late second half push to grab a double-digit lead with two minutes left to play. TSU was unable to forge a comeback. The offense struggled for the second consecutive game as Jasmin Shuler led TSU with 14 points and Rachel Allen added 12.

ABOUT THE OPPONENT
Tennessee Tech (12-14, 8-4 OVC) is coming off a, 68-65, win over Austin Peay on the road. The Golden Eagles have won six of their last seven contests including two straight.

In Tech's most recent win over APSU, Tacarra Hayes led the team with 18 points while Jala Harris added 14. Rachel Glidden followed with 12 points.

Overall, the Golden Eagles average 63.3 points per game behind a .396 field goal percentage (.27 three-point range). Tacarra Harris leads TTU in scoring with 17.0 ppg while Jala Harris averages 13.6 points per outing. Brittany Darling is the team's leading rebounder with 6.4 rpg.

TSU vs. TENNESSEE TECH
Tennessee State and Tennessee Tech will meet for the 56th time in the long series history. The Golden Eagles lead the series, 55-10. Tech claimed the first meeting of the season, 80-71, over the TSU in the Eblen Center.

LAST TIME THEY MET (Jan.9, 2012)
The Tennessee State University women's basketball team battled the whole night but couldn't pull out the win in an, 80-71, loss to Tennessee Tech on the road Monday night in the Eblen Center.

Tennessee State (6-11, 2-3 OVC) shot 37.1 percent from the field but only managed a dismal 8.3 shooting percentage (1-of-12) from three-point range. Tennessee Tech (6-11, 2-2 OVC) knocked down 40.3 percent of its shots, including 31.3 percent (5-of-16) from beyond the arc.

Tayla Foster led TSU with 20 points and nine rebounds while Avery Jones scored 11.

Tech had three players to score in double figures led by Tacarra Hayes' 27. Jala Harris (22) and Brittany Darling (13) also posted double-digits.

Both teams committed 13 turnovers as TSU held a slight edge in rebounds, 45-44. The Lady Tigers made 23-of-62 (68.6 percent) from the free-throw line while the Golden Eagles went 25-of-36 (69.4 percent) from the charity stripe.

COVERAGE

TSU vs. Tennessee Tech will be shown on OVCsports.tv. Live stats will be available at tsutigers.com while fans can listen live at tsuradio.com.

TEAM LEADERS

Jasmin Shuler leads TSU in scoring with 15.1 ppg while Tayla Foster (9.8 ppg) and Destiney Gaston (7.3 ppg) round out the top three scorers for the Lady Tigers. Foster is pulling down a team-best 5.1 rebounds per game while Chelsea Hudson and Simone Hopes average 4.5 caroms per outing. Rachel Allen leads the team in assists while Gaston also paces TSU with 30 blocks.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE
The Lady Tigers will have a week off before returning to action against Jacksonville State at home for Pink Zone. Game time is set for 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 18 in the Gentry Center.