WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM PRESSES HAWAII, BUT NOT ENOUGH FOR WIN
MARTIN, Tenn. – Despite outscoring host Hawaii by six points in the second half, The University of Tennessee at Martin women’s basketball team suffered a 73-69 setback in the Jack in the Box Rainbow Wahine Classic at the Stan Sheriff Center Saturday night.
The Skyhawks applied a tenacious full-court press in the second and made a 15-2 run to claim a 52-51 lead with 7:33 left in the game.
However, Hawaii answered. The Rainbow Wahine tied the game at 56-all, and put the game out of reach with a 16-11 run in the final five minutes.
UT Martin, the nation’s defending scoring champs struggled in the first half against Hawaii. From the field the Skyhawks shot 25 percent and from beyond the 3-point arc was worse, as the team made 3-of-14 in the first 20 minutes.
The guard tandem of Jasmine Newsome and Heather Butler combined for 43 of the Skyhawks 69 points. Newsome led the way with 25 points and a 10-for-12 effort at the free throw line. Butler tossed in 18 points.
Freshman Katie Schubert made a pair of 3-pointers and led the Skyhawks with seven rebounds.
Hawaii was led by Kamilah Martin, Destiny King and Kanisha Bello. Martin posted a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds. King and Bello netted 11 points each. Ashley Karaitiana also pulled down 10 rebounds and Hawaii out rebounded the Skyhawks 44-33.
The Skyhawks returned to action tonight at 8:30 CT against defending national champion Baylor. Fans can keep up with the Skyhawks on the Internet (Live Stats) at: http://www.sidearmstats.com/hawaii/wbball/scoreboard.aspxor listen to the game at
http://www.baylorbears.com/allaccess/or locally on WCMT 101.3 FM.