Tennessee Tech is ranked No. 24 in the NCAA Women’s Basketball Mid-Major Top 25 poll and will come into Lantz Arena as the top team of the Ohio Valley Conference.

Led by Tacarra Hayes, the Golden Eagles are playing to their strengths as good as any team in the conference, Eastern head coach Brady Sallee said.

Sallee said the Golden Eagles are doing a good job of defending and rebounding in order to win games.

“It may sound familiar, but it’s one of those things that they’ve bought into and they’re doing it really, really well,” Sallee said.

The Golden Eagles are giving up fewer points per game than any team in the OVC, 62.7; in fact, that total is two points fewer than the next closest team.

Also, the Golden Eagles are the No. 1 rebounding team in the OVC, averaging 40 rebounds per game.

Hayes is Tennessee Tech’s leading scorer, averaging 15 points per game. With a strong skill set, Sallee said one of the most impressive things is how well Hayes rebounds.

“Coming from the point guard position, that’s tough,” Sallee said.

The Golden Eagles are on a five-game winning streak coming into Thursday’s game, while Eastern is on a three-game losing streak.

“We don’t care what our record has been or what happened in the past,” sophomore guard Kelsey Wyss said. “The past is the past for a reason.”

The Golden Eagles lead the conference in defense and rebounding, but Eastern is not far behind.

The Panthers are sixth in the OVC in rebounding and third in points allowed.

Sophomore guard Ta’Kenya Nixon said she thinks the team will play better now that it is at home in Lantz Arena.

“Our fans deserve our best effort,” Nixon said.

However, the Golden Eagles are 7-3 in road games this season. Nixon is banking on the Panthers being 5-3 at home this season.

Sallee said he expects the game to be competitive because of what the two teams are trying to accomplish.

Tennessee Tech is one game ahead of Morehead State and Tennessee-Martin in the OVC standings, while is in fifth place.

“There is a sense of urgency on our end of it, and (the Golden Eagles) are trying to stay on top,” Sallee said.

Game time is set for 5:30 p.m. Thursday in Lantz Arena.

Alex McNamee can be reached at 581-7944

or admcnamee@eiu.edu.

Chantelle Pressley, a senior forward, shoots a free throw during the game against Eastern Kentucky Jan. 13 in Lantz Arena. The Panthers take on Tennessee Tech today at 5:30 p.m. in Lantz Arena. (Audrey Sawyer

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