Live Stats OVC Digital Network Game Notes
The University of Tennessee at Martin women’s basketball team will play the first of three key Ohio Valley Conference road games tonight at Tennessee Tech. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
The Skyhawks will also play at SIU-Edwardsville and Eastern Illinois before returning to the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center to play Eastern Kentucky on Feb. 4.
“With three straight tough road trips, we are beginning to see what kind of team we are. We’re coming along, just trying to put it all together, as we move down the OVC stretch,” UT Martin head coach Kevin McMillan said.
The Skyhawks will ride the momentum from Saturday’s, 75-56, victory over Morehead State into the OVC battle at Tennessee Tech.
Jasmine Newsome led all scorers with 27 points, while Heather Butler, the Skyhawks’ all-time leading scorer tossed in 24 points and four 3-pointers. Rickiesha Bryant scored 12 points and pulled down 13 rebounds, it was the senior’s second consecutive double-double and the fourth career-time the Homestead, Fla. native grabbed double-digit points and rebounds.
“Rickiesha (Bryant) is playing big minutes that she has never played in her career, but she has been stepping up huge for us as of late and giving us performances that we really need,” McMillan said.
With 13:01 to play against Morehead State, UT Martin stretched its lead to 22 points, 54-22. The Skyhawks shot 52.6 percent from the field and 47 percent from 3-point range, knocking down 8-of-17 attempts.
The first half was a lot tougher than the second half for the Skyhawks. Morehead State opened the game with a 9-2 run. However, the Skyhawks turned the table with a 29-16 surge that erased the early Morehead State advantage.
Newsome made a steal and raced for a layup to give the Skyhawks their first lead of the game, 26-25 with 2:35 to play in the first half. Butler added her second 3-pointer of the half and Newsome closed out the first half with a shot at the buzzer to give the Skyhawks a 31-25 advantage.
The Golden Eagles are led by senior Guard Jala Harris. Harris tied her career high with 26 points in the win over SIUE and 12 points against a tough EIU team. Much of depth has come from Diamond Henderson and Lashay Davis. Henderson leads the team with 15.2 points per game while Davis averages 7.5 points per game on the season and 11.2 points in conference action.
The Skyhawks have won the last four contests between the OVC rivals, including defeating the Golden Eagles in back-to-back OVC Tournament championships. UT Martin will look to continue that streak and win just the program’s third decision in Cookeville.
Fans can catch a free live video stream of the game on the OVC Digital Network at this link: http://www.ovcdigitalnetwork.com/showcase/#Live/435. On the radio, Chris Brinkley will have the call on Star 95.1 FM, while live stats will be available here: http://livestats.prestosports.com/ttusports/wbkb/?e=3riyr7pamx3h6er4.