MARTIN, Tenn. – An 11-0 run by visiting Lindenwood to end the game proved to be a spoiler for the University of Tennessee at Martin women’s basketball team, as the Lions escaped with a 73-68 victory in the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center.
The Skyhawks (7-12, 4-4 OVC) led for a good portion of the game after stringing together a 19-2 run over the final six minutes of the second quarter to head into the halftime with a nine-point advantage. The home squad led by as much as 11 points on multiple occasions in the third quarter, but Lindenwood would not go away quietly.
The Lions (4-14, 2-6 OVC) chipped away at the deficit and brought the margin down to two points late in the third quarter before later retaking the lead for the first time since early in the game when Mya Skoff knocked down a three-pointer with eight seconds to play to give the Lions a three-point advantage. The Skyhawks tried to answer, but their three-point attempt went long and the visitors knocked down a pair of late free throws to put the game on ice.
Redshirt-freshman Kenley McCarn paced the Skyhawks with 27 points in the setback while true freshman Norah Clark chipped in 16 points and five rebounds. Sophomore Anaya Brown posted her sixth double-double of the season and second of the weekend after tallying 13 points and 12 rebounds.
“Their kids played hard, executed down the stretch and we didn’t answer the bell in the last five minutes,” UT Martin head coach Kevin McMillan said. “They did and I give them credit.”
Lindenwood picked up snapped a brief losing streak after shooting 50.9 percent from the field and placing four players in double figures. Ellie Brueggemann paced the Lions with 27 points – including seven three-pointers –while Alyssa Nielsen ranked second on the team with 16 points, six rebounds and five assists. Along with her go-ahead three-pointer in the final seconds, Skoff tallied 11 points while Justis Odom tossed in 10 points and seven boards.
UT Martin will hit the road for the next two weeks when opening a four-game road swing at Eastern Illinois on Thursday, Feb. 1.
