BOXSCORE
MARTIN, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin women’s basketball team moved to 10-5 on the year with an 82-62 victory over visiting Eastern Illinois Monday night. The host Skyhawks knocked down a season-high 16 3-pointers.
The Skyhawks also extended their winning streak to four games.
“This is a big win for us,” UT Martin head coach Kevin McMillian said. “We want to sustain this a couple of more games.”
The Skyhawks have one more regular season game remaining, Saturday at Austin Peay. Tipoff is set for 5:15 p.m.
“The kids played unselfish tonight,” McMillian said.
Junior Heather Butler led the Skyhawks with 21 points, while Jasmine Newsome finished with 17 points. Freshman Chelsey Hall scored a career-high 13 points while senior Shelby Crawford scored 10 points.
Senior Rickiesha Bryant pulled down 10 rebounds to lead UT Martin. However, EIU outrebounded UT Martin 43-34.
Ta’Kenya Nixon led the Panthers with 20 points. Sabina Oroszova and Mariah King scored 12 points each.
“The only thing I am happy about is we are playing well right now,” McMillian said.
The victory was the Skyhawks fourth consecutive victory over the Panthers in the friendly confines of the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center. It was also the sixth time this season the Skyhawks have won when they score more than 80 points.
However, victory didn’t come easy as EIU built an early 24-18 advantage. The Skyhawks took the lead for good, 28-26, when freshman Sydney Vanlandingham knocked down her first 3-pointer of the game with 6:02 to play in the first half.
The Skyhawks knocked down 10 3-pointers in the first half to build a 49-33 lead. Butler drained four treys, while Schubert and Crawford hit two each. Newsome and Vandlandingham hit one each.
However, the Skyhawks fell behind early, but battled back with three 3-pointers, two by Crawford and one by Newsome. Crawford’s jumper with 15:42 to play in the first half cut EIU’s lead to one point, 12-11.
“We want to be playing well as the season winds down and the tournament starts,” McMillian said.