MARTIN, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin women’s basketball team overcame a slow start to the contest before shooting 67 percent in the final three quarters to cruise to a 68-49 home victory against new Ohio Valley Conference foe Western Illinois on Thursday evening.
The Skyhawks (6-9, 3-1 OVC) got back to their winning ways by shooting 51.1 percent from the floor – marking the third consecutive game that the squad has shot over 50 percent from the field. Despite a game which saw five lead changes and four ties, the home squad led for nearly 32 minutes of the contest and placed four players in double figures.
UT Martin pushed the team’s lead out to nine points early in the third quarter but Western Illinois answered with a 10-0 run of its own to not only erase the team’s deficit but also take its first lead since midway through the second quarter. The deficit would be short-lived for the Skyhawks as they immediately answered with a 13-0 run to take command of the game and never looked back.
Four players reached double figures for the Skyhawks, led by the play of freshman Norah Clark who tossed in 19 points while adding eight rebounds and three steals. The sophomore trio of Anaya Brown, Josie Storey and Lexi Rubel also eclipsed the double-digit mark with Brown adding 13 points while Storey knocked down three three-pointers on the way to a 12-point performance. Rounding out the squad was Rubel who flirted with a triple-double after tallying 11 points, nine rebounds and seven assists in the victory.
“I thought we came out to start the second half and made a big run, but we aren’t the kind of team that is going to knock you out,” UT Martin head coach Kevin McMillan said. “I thought our kids did a good job though, because they were controlling the game for a while and we responded well. The game wasn’t really pretty, but fortunately we won the ballgame and that’s what matters.”
Western Illinois (11-4, 2-2 OVC) dropped its second league contest in the last three opportunities after shooting just 30 percent from the field. The Leathernecks placed three players in double figures, led by Addi Brownfield who chipped in 12 points and five rebounds while Anna Deets (11 points, five rebounds) and Raegan McCowan (10 points, four rebounds) rounded out the trio in double digits.
UT Martin will have a quick turnaround with a matchup against defending OVC champion Little Rock on Saturday, Jan. 13. Tipoff from the Elam Center is scheduled for 1 p.m.
