NASHVILLE – Tennessee State women's basketball returns to Ohio Valley Conference action Saturday as the Lady Tigers take on Eastern Illinois at 1 p.m. inside the Groniger Arena.

The Lady Tigers (2–12, 1–4 OVC) continue to build through conference play under head coach Candice Dupree, emphasizing rebounding, defensive effort, and bench production as they look to translate recent growth into results at home.

Tennessee State enters the matchup coming off a road contest at Western Illinois, where the Lady Tigers showed resilience on both ends of the floor. TSU limited the Leathernecks to 39.7 percent shooting, controlled the offensive glass with 11 offensive rebounds, and generated 17 second-chance points. Brianna Wooldridge anchored the paint with 12 rebounds, while Aaniya Webb led the scoring effort with 11 points. The Lady Tigers also received 22 points from the bench, continuing a trend of balanced contributions throughout the rotation.

As conference play progresses, Tennessee State has leaned into physical play, interior presence, and lineup depth, with consistent rebounding and defensive pressure shaping its identity.

Series History

Tennessee State and Eastern Illinois will meet for the 46th time in program history. Eastern Illinois leads the all-time series 36–9, holding a cumulative scoring advantage of 3206–2752.

In the series, Eastern Illinois has averaged 71.2 points per game, while Tennessee State has averaged 61.2. Despite the historical numbers, the Lady Tigers continue to gain experience and confidence within conference play as they look to close the gap in league competition.

Keys to the Game

• Win the rebounding battle: TSU has shown strength on the glass, particularly on the offensive boards, creating second-chance scoring opportunities.

• Defensive discipline: Limiting shooting efficiency and forcing contested looks will be critical against an experienced EIU squad.

• Bench impact: Continued production from TSU's bench can provide energy and momentum throughout the game.

• Protect the paint: Interior defense and rim presence remain key as the Lady Tigers look to control the tempo.

Know Before You Go

Who: Tennessee State at. Eastern Illinois
When: Saturday, January 10 – 1 p.m.
Where: Groniger Arena | Charleston, Ill.
Follow: @TSUTigersWBB on X and Instagram