NASHVILLE — For the first time since the 2015-16 season, the Tennessee State women's basketball team enters the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament as the eighth-seed and will take on fifth-seeded Eastern Illinois on Wednesday at 1 p.m. from the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana.

The Matchup: Tennessee State Lady Tigers (11-18, 6-12 OVC) vs Eastern Illinois Panthers (16-13, 11-7 OVC)
Date/Time: Wednesday, March 2 at 1:00 p.m.
Location: Ford Center || Evansville, Ind. 
IP TV: ESPN+
Live Stats

EIU SERIES INFORMATION: EIU leads the season series, 33-15. EIU is on a five-game winning streak over the lady Tigers after knocking off TSU 78-70 in overtime on Jan. 24.

SCOUTING THE PANTHERS: EIU finished the season on a three-game winning streak with victories over Tennessee State, Morehead State and Austin Peay. Lariah Washington leads the Panthers in scoring this season at 15.5 points per night and is second in rebounds (4.7). Washington has scored in double figures in 26 of 29 games this season with a season-best 26 points vs. Austin Peay on Jan. 15. Abby Wahl is second in scoring at 11.3 per night. She leads the Panthers in rebounds (5.7). Wahl finished the season strong with 20 points in a win against Austin Peay.

ADAMS WINS TSU'S FIRST FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Gia Adams took home TSU's first OVC Freshman of the Year award after she finished second on the team and 10th in the OVC in scoring at 12.6 points per game. 

A native of Houston, Texas, Adams leads all freshman with 12.6 points per game to rank 12th in the Conference. She ranks in the OVC top ten in free throw percentage (77.3%) and steals (1.6 spg). The All-Newcomer team pick also finished the regular season among the league leaders with 2.6 assists per game.

Adams reached double-digits in points in 15 of the 29 games she played. She hit the 20-plus point mark six times with a season-high 33 coming against SIUE. She becomes the first Lady Tiger to be named the OVC Freshman of the Year.

TSU IN THE OVC'S TSU is 8-14 all-time in the OVC Tournament and 0-2 against Wednesday's foe. The two meetings came in back-to-back years — the 2009 OVC Semifinals saw Eastern Illinois defeat TSU, 64-48. In 2010, The Panthers won 73-56 in the first round.