WOMEN'S HOOPS SET FOR TITLE OPPORTUNITY AGAINST TENNESSEE TECH IN OVC FINALS
Game Notes Live Stats ESPN3
The University of Tennessee at Martin women’s basketball team will matchup with No. 2 seed Tennessee Tech for the third consecutive season for the right to play in the NCAA Tournament, with the Skyhawks winning both of the previous matchups. In the two teams’ lone meeting this season (Jan. 21), UT Martin claimed an 81-63 win over Tennessee Tech in Cookeville. Tip is set for 1:30 p.m. on Saturday from Municipal Auditorium in Nashville.
UT Martin head coach Kevin McMillan and the Skyhawks head into the showdown on the wings of a season-best seven-game winning streak.
The Skyhawks (18-14) advanced to their third straight OVC tournament championship appearance, after narrowly escaping No. 1 seed Eastern Illinois in the OVC tournament semifinals 71-69. Heather Butler sank a go-ahead pull-up jumper with just four seconds remaining for the game winner.
Butler’s 24 points led all scorers, as the Medina native also tied a career-high with eight assists and added five rebounds with two steals. She came up big down the stretch, tallying six of UT Martin’s last eight points to help the Skyhawks overcome a six-point deficit with 3:38 to play.
One day after pouring in an OVC tournament record 41 points, Jasmine Newsome compiled her seventh career double-double (23 points, 10 rebounds) – breaking a record for most points in a two-game span in the OVC Tournament (previously set in 2002). Senior Rickiesha Bryant also made a bit of history, as she recorded 12 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks for her eighth double-double of the season. The four blocks moved Bryant into first place on UT Martin’s single-season blocked shots list with 83, eclipsing the previous mark of 81 set by Mary Kate Long in 1987.
The Skyhawks have won each of the last two conference tournament titles and have appeared in the championship game four times in school history, posting a 2-2 mark.
Fans can watch this game live, free of charge, on ESPN3 at this link: http://espn.go.com/watchespn/index/_/id/832374/championship-week-ohio-valley-women-tournament-championship. Live stats can also be found here: http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=19801. Locally the game can be heard on WCMT 101.3 FM with Chris Brinkley (color) and Tom Britt (play-by-play) on the call.