Live Stats OVC Digital Network Game Notes
The University of Tennessee at Martin women’s basketball team will open a three-game homestand Monday, Feb. 4 as Eastern Kentucky invades the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center. Tipoff for the Ohio Valley Conference game is set for 7 p.m.
The Skyhawks return to the friendly confines of the Elam Center where they sport a 7-4 overall record and a 3-1 league worksheet. The battle of West (UT Martin) and East (Eastern Kentucky) marks the first time the Skyhawk women have played in the Elam Center since Jan. 19.
The Skyhawks are paced by junior guards Jasmine Newsome and Heather Butler. In the two games this past week, Newsome average 22.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 5.0 steals and 5.0 assists per game. Newsome is 14th in the nation in points scored. She averages 21.0 points a game.
Butler’s stat line was just as good. The Gibson County product and UT Martin’s all-time leading scorer averaged 19.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game. She also drained nine 3-pointers in the two games at SIU-Edwardsville (67-66 OT) and Eastern Illinois (84-79). Butler is currently eighth in the nation in points scored. She averages 21.8 points a game.
The Skyhawks suffered setbacks in both road games by a total of six points. The SIU-Edwardsville game marked the third time this season the Skyhawks played an overtime period. The Skyhawks are now 5-3 when they score 71-80 points and 0-6 when they score 61-70 points. However, the Skyhawks are 5-0 this season when they score 81 or more points.
Eastern Kentucky (13-7, 7-2 OVC) comes into Martin winning its third straight and seven of the last 10 games after handing Southeast Missouri a 53-49 loss Saturday. Senior Alex Jones led EKU in the win, notching her fourth double-double (13 points, 11 rebounds) in the Lady Colonels’ last five games.
The matchup will pit the OVC’s top offensive team with the Skyhawks averaging 72.0 points per game against the league’s top defensive team as the Lady Colonels give surrender a mere 58.1 points a night.
Fans can view the game online free of charge on the OVC Digital Network at this link: http://www.ovcdigitalnetwork.com/showcase/#Live/486. Live stats will be available by clicking here: http://www.utmsports.com/livestats/wbasketball/xlive.htm. Locally, Chris Brinkley will call all the action on the radio at Star 95.1 FM.