UT MARTIN PUSHES TOP-SEED BELMONT TO THE BRINK BEFORE FALLING IN OVC CHAMPIONSHIP 59-53

Saturday, March 9

Evansville, Ind.

2 p.m.

UT Martin

23-9

Belmont

26-6

UT Martin

Belmont

UT MARTIN PUSHES TOP-SEED BELMONT TO THE BRINK BEFORE FALLING IN OVC CHAMPIONSHIP 59-53

3/9/2019 6:01:00 PM | Women's Basketball

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EVANSVILLE, Ind. – While the University of Tennessee at Martin women's basketball team's path through the Ohio Valley Conference Basketball Championship had enough twists and turns to mimic a true Hollywood thriller, the Skyhawks would fall just short of their Cinderella moment at the hands of Belmont by a final score of 59-53 at the Ford Center.

Making their seventh OVC Championship final appearance in 10 years, the Skyhawks (23-9) showed their grit and toughness throughout the contest. Despite falling behind by 10 points midway through the second quarter, UT Martin would fight back down the stretch to trim the deficit to just three points heading into the half. From there the lead would change hands five times along with three stretches where the game was tied.

Sadly, the team's poor shooting output caught up to them in the third quarter (15.8 percent) to allow Belmont to push its margin back to seven points heading into the final quarter. UT Martin would respond down the stretch to trim the deficit to as close as three points on a pair of occasions but could never get over the hump before ultimately falling 59-53.

With the loss, UT Martin now must sit and wait to see in a postseason invitation will be extended to the 23-win squad. The Skyhawks will have to wait until at-large bids are announced on Monday, March 18 if the program will embark on its ninth postseason opportunity – most likely in the Women's NIT – with a resume' that includes 23 wins, a program-record eight non-conference wins and the OVC's runner-up.

A total of three different Skyhawks scored in double figures in today's contest. Sophomore Chelsey Perry paced the team with 16 points while the pair of Emanye Robertson and Brittni Moore scored 13 points each. Postgame, Robertson was honored for her impressive play in the tournament, earning a spot on the five-member OVC All-Tournament team after averaging 19.3 points, 6.3 assists and 4.0 rebounds per game.

"It's tough for these young kids," UT Martin head coach Kevin McMillan said. "It was a good ballgame and we had our chances. There were times where we could have laid down but we didn't and I give Emanye credit for leading this team. She didn't play a good game by her standards, but I wanted the ball in her hands to be able to make plays. She had a great senior year, just look at how she guarded Maggard. Everything we needed to do to win, we did. We just need to make some extra shots and Belmont made them."

With the victory Belmont (26-6) notched its fourth straight OVC tournament title while earning the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament in two weeks. Junior Ellie Harmeyer ranked as the Bruins lone scorer in double figures with 16 points and nine rebounds. Meanwhile, the OVC Player of the Year Darby Maggard was held in control and well below her season average with just six points after going head-to-head with OVC Defensive Player of the Year Robertson for much of the contest.