By Marlon Scott | Senior Staff Writer

Photo by Mateen Sidiq | Multimedia Editor

Only eight teams are still competing in the Ohio Valley Conference and they all have the same thing on their minds: “Win or go home.”

The only way to get to the big dance is to win the OVC Tournament and the last team to do so was the Lady Govs.

In the Dunn Center Tuesday, March 2, the Lady Govs faced the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles, their first step on the road to repeat as tournament champions.

It was a step easily taken. The Lady Govs defeated Tennessee Tech 79-61, leaving no doubt who still held the crown.

“We came out with fire. We came out with heart, hustle and everything you need to win a basketball game,” said junior guard Ashley Herring. “I think that took them off guard.”

Herring was just shy of a double-double with a team high 22 points and nine rebounds. Sophomore guard Whitney Hanley added 18 points, and senior forward Nicole Jamen earned a double-double with 13 points and 15 rebounds.

It was clear the Lady Govs plan was to be aggressive. They drove to the basket at every opportunity and crashed the boards on both ends. They shot 42 percent (16-of-38) from the field in the first half and out rebounded the Golden Eagles 27-15.

The Golden Eagles missed shots early and allowed the aggressive Lady Govs to take a quick 6-2 lead. They battled back to a 16-16 tie at the 12 minute mark. But then Herring made two free throws after being fouled while driving to the basket which lit a fuse that exploded into a 24-11 run by the Lady Gloves. At halftime they led 40-27.

Unlike some of their games in the past, the Lady Govs continued to dominate in the second half.

After being held to only six points in the first half, Tennessee Tech’s Tacarra Hayes finished the game with 13 total points. Together with her teammate Kellie Cook who scored 18 points, the Golden Eagles chipped way at the Lady Govs lead.

They got within 10 points with 9:21 remaining in the game. But a final 18-10 run by the Lady Govs ended any dreams of the Golden Eagles soaring to the next round.

“I was so proud of this basketball team,” said Lady Govs head coach Carrie Daniels. “We had multiple players that stepped up and did it for this team. But it was defense and rebounds total as a team; we played team defense tonight and that was the direct result, what you saw on the score board.”

The win advances the Lady Govs to the semifinal round. Next they will face Morehead State at 2 p.m. Friday, March 5, in the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.