TOP PHOTO: Madison Brady (# 43) and her Lady Golden Eagles won on Saturday over the Lady Racers at Murray State.

By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information

JACKSONVILLE, AL (SPECIAL TO WLAF) – It’s only been a little under a month and a half, but it seems like ages since the Tennessee Tech women’s basketball team last took on Jacksonville State back in December 13.

The Golden Eagles won that game by a slim 68-66 advantage in the Hooper Eblen Center, but that was only Tech’s second game of the season after a series of COVID-related schedule changes. Even as the Golden Eagles look to take the regular-season sweep on Monday night at Pete Mathews Coliseum, the contest takes on much different stakes than when they last met.

Tipoff for the game is scheduled for 6 p.m. Roger Ealey will provide the call on 106.1 The Eagle, while the game will also be broadcast on ESPN+ (subscription required).

The game is a makeup from the originally scheduled game from December 3.

Since the two teams last squared off, Jacksonville State has amassed a 7-4 record overall, 4-3 in the Ohio Valley Conference. Tech stands with the same overall mark, but has a slight advantage in the standings on winning percentage with a 5-3 record in the conference.

As of today, the Golden Eagles stand in fifth, though have just one fewer league win than UT Martin (7-3, 6-1 OVC), Southeast Missouri (8-5, 6-2 OVC) and Austin Peay (8-5, 6-3 OVC). Belmont has played fewer games at 6-3, but presently stand in third in the conference with a 3-1 mark in the league.

Tech, meanwhile, currently has the second-longest conference winning streak, winning its last three games against Tennessee State, Austin Peay and Murray State. Jacksonville State dropped its last two games, falling 67-60 at Murray State on Thursday and 61-51 at Austin Peay last night.

In the previous meeting between the Golden Eagles and the Gamecocks, senior Kesha Brady scored a game-high 27 points to help Tech rally from a seven-point JSU lead midway through the fourth quarter. Anna Jones gave Tech a 66-64 lead with 15 seconds remaining on a 3-pointer, then JSU’s leader with 24 points, Yamia Johnson, tied the game on a jumper.

Brady drew a foul and drained both free throws to put Tech back up by a pair, leaving Johnson one last opportunity to tie or win the game. Her last-second attempt was no good, securing the victory for Tech.

At the time, it was Jacksonville State’s fourth game of the season, Tech’s second.

Johnson continues to lead the Gamecocks in scoring, averaging 16.9 points, while second on the team in rebounds with 6.2 boards a game. Jessie Day leads the team in rebounding with 6.3 a game.

From the field, JSU is shooting .393, including .292 from beyond the arc. The Gamecocks are shooting .600 at the stripe. JSU is averaging 64.9 points a game, while allowing 58.8.

Brady tops the Golden Eagles’ double-digit trio of scorers, averaging 13.2 points a game, while Mackenzie Coleman with 12.0 and Anna Jones with 11.5. Jones also leads the team in rebounding with 6.5 boards a game, while Coleman (5.5) and Jada Guinn (5.4) are averaging more than five a game.

The Golden Eagles are shooting .433 from the field, including .313 from 3-point range and .747 from the free-throw line. Tech is averaging 69.6 points per game, while allowing 63.7. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 01/25/2021-6AM).