The 16-seed Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles Women face the one seed South Carolina Gamecocks Friday afternoon.
Tennessee Tech will look for a repeat of 1989, where the Golden Eagles defeated South Carolina. Tennessee Tech has won two games all-time in NCAA tournament history. Tennessee Tech Women’s Basketball Coach Kim Rosamond said South Carolina has the best bench in college basketball.
“We understand the assignment,” Rosamond said. “We understand the challenge, but we also understand the opportunity. You know, when we’re going to break it up, we’re not going to look at it as, you know, we got to go for 40 minutes, you know, and take them on. We’re going to break it up just like we have all year, eight five-minute segments.”
The Golden Eagles defeated Lindenwood in overtime, securing their 11th OVC championship. South Carolina enters 30-3. They enter having won three of the last seven national championships.
The Gamecocks of Head Coach Dawn Staley carry a seven-game win streak entering Friday’s game. They also carry what Rosamond said is a level of competitive excellence on the floor.
“When I was playing and coming up, it was Pat Summitt and it was the Tennessee Lady Vols and what Dawn has done, you know, three national championships in what, the last [seven] years, there’s so many things that impress you.” Rosamond said.
South Carolina scores over 80 points per game. They have held their opponents to under 60 points per game.
“You talk about Milaysia Fulwiley, Joyce Edwards, who is, you know, one of the best freshmen in the country to Chloe Pitts who is, you know, one of the most dynamic forwards to Raven Johnson, and then you look across there, they have the standard now as far as the coach.” Rosamond said.
Tennessee Tech enters Columbia Friday afternoon with a 26-5 record. They won the OVC championship last week, defeating Lindenwood in overtime 83-76. The Golden Eagles would have clinched regardless of the outcome as Lindenwood was unable to compete in the tournament due to NCAA reclassification rules.
“We’re going to go in there and I know our kids aren’t going to flinch or back down from the moment on Friday.” Rosamond said.
