EVANSVILLE, Ind. — Tennessee Tech secured its 11th Ohio Valley Conference championship victory with an 82-76 win over Lindenwood, led by Reghan Grimes’ impressive 23 points and Keeley Carter’s crucial 21-point contribution, including nine in overtime. Despite Lindenwood’s transition to Division I, Tennessee Tech had already claimed its 12th NCAA tournament invitation after defeating Southern Indiana 88-78 in the semifinals.
Keeley Carter, who received the tournament MVP title, significantly influenced the game’s outcome. She made a pivotal three-point play, pushing the Golden Eagles ahead at 76-74 with just over a minute to go. Although Brooke Coffey helped Lindenwood draw level with a layup, Carter swiftly responded with a successful jump shot and a subsequent steal, capping her performance with two crucial free throws to secure an 80-76 advantage with 13.2 seconds remaining.
The Lions struggled towards the end, missing five of their last six attempts, while Tennessee Tech, with a remarkable 17 consecutive victories, exhibited excellent composure by successfully converting eight out of nine free throw attempts in overtime.
Chloe Larry, contributing 15 points including the final two free throws, along with Carter’s perfect 13-for-13 free throw performance, highlighted the scoring exploits of the top-seeded Golden Eagles who stood at 26-5. On the other side, Coffey achieved a personal best with 20 points for the Lions, who were experiencing their first title game, complemented by Ellie Brueggemann’s 19 points.
As the game wound down, both teams experienced scoring challenges; however, Brueggemann broke the stalemate by putting the Lions ahead 70-68 with just over two minutes left. Grimes answered back for Tennessee Tech, equalizing with a precise fadeaway shot just 19.2 seconds before the end of regulation.
Lindenwood had one more opportunity; Brueggemann had a promising shot from near the foul line, but Coffey’s attempt to capitalize on the rebound as time expired fell short.
Lindenwood held narrow leads through most of the game, ending each quarter ahead, standing 20-16 in the first, 33-32 at halftime, and 59-55 after three quarters.
