BIG SECOND HALF LIFTS UT MARTIN TO 80-75 OVERTIME VICTORY AGAINST SAMFORD

Thursday, November 21

Martin, Tenn.

6 p.m.

UT Martin

1-3

Samford

1-5

OT 1

Samford

UT Martin

BIG SECOND HALF LIFTS UT MARTIN TO 80-75 OVERTIME VICTORY AGAINST SAMFORD

11/21/2019 9:44:00 PM | Women's Basketball

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MARTIN, Tenn. – Trailing by double figures heading into the fourth quarter, the University of Tennessee at Martin women's basketball posted a thrilling comeback in the final quarter and overtime period to lift the squad to an 80-75 victory over Samford.

The Skyhawks (1-3) recorded their first win of the season behind a supportive crowd in the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center. Facing a deficit as large as 12 points in the second half while also beginning the game in a nine-point hole, the Skyhawks scratched and clawed their way to an overtime period by outscoring the Bulldogs by 10 in the fourth. With new life and five extra minutes, UT Martin put the game away late to secure a five-point victory.

Leading the charge for UT Martin was the play of junior forward Chelsey Perry who posted a new career-high with 32 points while tallying five rebounds and two blocks. While Perry led the team offensively, it was sophomore Damiah Griffin who spurred the strong fourth quarter, scoring 11 of her 16 points in the period. Rounding out the Skyhawks in double figures was sophomore Sade' Hudson with 10 points off the bench.

Gallery: (11/21/2019) WBB vs. Samford

"That's a really good win for us because that's an experienced team," UT Martin head coach Kevin McMillan said. "We are just so inexperienced and young right now, but Chelsey, Damiah and Sade' all played big. We made a lot of mistakes tonight but our kids made some plays when they needed to. This game had several strange things happen but we responded, got an extra big of adrenaline late, fought and found a way to win which is huge right now."

Samford (1-5) saw four different players score in double figures, including a near triple-double by Charity Brown with 18 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds in the contest. The duo of Natalie Armstrong and Sarah Myers chipped in 15 points apiece while Shauntai Battle capped off the Bulldogs in double figures with 10 points.

The Bulldogs jumped out to an early nine-point advantage in the first quarter before taking a 23-18 lead into the second quarter. The Skyhawks would piece together a 9-0 run in the second but would ultimately gain no ground at the break, facing a five-point deficit. Another strong third quarter by Samford pushed the team's margin out to 12 points in the final minute of the period.

Needing a late push, UT Martin would crank up the defensive pressure in the second half, tallying 12 steals and forcing 15 turnovers in the game's final 25 minutes of play. With Perry on the bench with foul trouble, the sophomore trio of Brittni Moore, Griffin and Hudson stepped up to combine for 21 points in the quarter and ultimately force overtime. From there it was Perry that put the game away, scoring nine of the team's 13 points in the five-minute period to give the Skyhawks their first win of the season.

UT Martin will return to action with a home contest against IUPUI on Monday, Nov. 25. Tipoff from the Elam Center is scheduled for 6 p.m.