SKYHAWK WOMEN’S HOOPS HOLDS OFF SOUTHERN ILLINOIS FOR 95-94 HOME VICTORY

Friday, November 9

Martin, Tenn.

6 p.m.

UT Martin

Southern Illinois

SKYHAWK WOMEN’S HOOPS HOLDS OFF SOUTHERN ILLINOIS FOR 95-94 HOME VICTORY

11/9/2018 10:28:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Boxscore PDF Postgame Press Conference

MARTIN, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin women's basketball team held a lead as large as 20 points before holding off regional rival Southern Illinois down the stretch to secure a 95-94 victory on Friday night in the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center.

The Skyhawks (2-0) remained unbeaten through the first week of the season behind a balanced scoring attack. While the home squad came out of the gates slow and Southern Illinois took an early nine-point advantage, the Skyhawks fought back with a flurry in the second and third quarter to outscore the Salukis 42-15 over a 17-minute span.

UT Martin would hold a lead as large as 20 points midway through the third quarter before Southern Illinois answered with a run of its own to not only cut the margin, but ultimately gave them the lead just two minutes into the fourth. From there the game would go back-and-forth before a block by sophomore Chelsey Perry and a three-pointer by freshman Emma Davis gave the Skyhawks a lead which would not be relinquished.

Senior Emanye Robertson tallied a team-high 15 points, five rebounds and four assists while Perry equaled her point total with 15 points of her own along with six rebounds and two blocks. Freshman Sade' Hudson tallied 14 points off the bench while sophomore Zaire Hicks rounded out the quartet with 10 points.

"I have been saying that our team and our season is probably going to look like a rollercoaster and today I think you saw that," UT Martin head coach Kevin McMillan said. "We didn't start out like we wanted to play but then we looked really dominant for a long stretch but it was like we just shut it off. Thankfully we made a couple big plays in the last minute to get control back and hold on. We were very fortunate to come back and win. With that said, every win we get now will just be icing on the cake for when we figure things out."

Southern Illinois (0-1) represented a formidable opponent as the squad saw a pair of players score over 20 points. Makenzie Silvey led the way with 29 points while Abby Brockmeyer tallied a double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds. Meanwhile Nicole Martin and Payton McCallister each notched 12 points of their own.

UT Martin will hit the road for its first contest away from the Elam Center on Tuesday, Nov. 13 with a matchup at IUPUI. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.