BASKETBALL SEASONS GET UNDER WAY WITH EXHIBITION GAMES THURSDAY, FRIDAY

October 31, 2012

MARTIN, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin women’s basketball team will open its 2012-13 season with an exhibition against Martin Methodist Thursday, Nov. 1. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. in the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center.

The Skyhawk women return three starters from last year’s team which won the Ohio Valley Conference, the OVC Tournament and advanced to the NCAA Tournament where they played Tennessee in the Des Moines Regional in Chicago.

“We will try to get an idea of who will contribute this season,” UT Martin head coach Kevin McMillan said. “We also want to fill any holes in our lineups.”

The Skyhawk women finished the season with a 23-9 overall record and a 15-1 OVC worksheet. The team returns starters Jasmine Newsome, Shelby Crawford and Heather Butler.

“We plan to treat this like a regular game and do the things we normally do,” McMillan said. “The difference will be a lot of players will get playing time.”

The Skyhawk women will officially open their season at 7 p.m., Friday, Nov. 9, when they play at Northwestern in Evanston, Ill.

The Skyhawk men will also play a preseason exhibition. Tipoff for the Skyhawks vs. Illinois College is set for 11 a.m., Friday, Nov. 2, in the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center. The men’s exhibition is part of the fifth annual “Character Counts” game.

Approximately 1,800 students from local elementary, middle and high schools will attend the game as part of a field trip to reward good behavior.

It will be the first time the Skyhawks take the floor in 2012-13, as fourth-year head coach Jason James will prepare his team for its regular season opener at Arkansas-Little Rock on Friday, Nov. 9. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.

UT Martin men’s team is led by senior Jeremy Washington, junior Mike Liabo, sophomore Terrence Smith and 2012 Freshman of the Year Myles Taylor. Both Washington and Taylor are from Little Rock, Ark.

“Friday’s exhibition is a great opportunity for our guys to play against somebody other than themselves,” UT Martin head coach Jason James said. “We really need to compete against outside competition to see where we are and what we need to get better at.”

UT Martin basketball season tickets are on sale now at the Skyhawk Ticket Office. For more information on season tickets call (731) 881-7207.