SKYHAWKS EXTEND WINNING STREAK TO NINE AND SWEEP SEASON SERIES WITH 80-70 WIN OVER SEMO

Monday, February 1

Martin, Tenn.

4 p.m.

UT Martin

11-3, 10-1OVC

Southeast Missouri

9-7, 7-4OVC

Southeast Missouri

UT Martin

SKYHAWKS EXTEND WINNING STREAK TO NINE AND SWEEP SEASON SERIES WITH 80-70 WIN OVER SEMO

2/1/2021 9:15:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score PDF Postgame Press Conference Highlights Photo Gallery

MARTIN, Tenn. – For the first time in six seasons, the University of Tennessee at Martin women's basketball team has strung together a nine-game winning streak following a comeback victory over Ohio Valley Conference rival Southeast Missouri on Monday afternoon, picking up an 80-70 win to sweep the regular season series.

The Skyhawks (11-3, 10-1 OVC) pushed the team's winning streak to nine games which ranks as the fifth longest winning streak over the past 12 seasons. The last team to win at least nine games was the 2015-16 squad which posted 10-consecutive victories stretching from Jan. 9 through Feb. 10. The win also marked the Skyhawks 18^th consecutive home victory against an OVC opponent.

UT Martin had to battle back from an early deficit and a double-digit margin in the second quarter. Southeast Missouri came out shooting red-hot in the first half, knocking down 58.6 percent of its attempts – including four three-pointers – to lead for the entirety of the first. UT Martin would turn up its defensive effort in the third period, holding SEMO to just 4-of-15 (26.7 percent) from the field, while taking its first lead at the 7:31 mark. The game's lead would ultimately change hands five times in the third before the Skyhawks took control with 3:05 to play in the period and never looked back.

Playing without one of the nation's top scorers in Chelsey Perry proved to not be an issue for the Skyhawks who found contributions throughout their lineup for the second straight game. Highlighting the scoring column was the play of sophomore Dasia Young who scored a career-high 25 points while tallying six rebounds. Young played a huge role in the early portion of the game – scoring 19 points in the first half alone.

Joining the starting lineup for the injured Perry was junior Kyannah Grant who filled in nicely at the guard position, tallying season-highs with 15 points and nine assists. Senior Maddie Waldrop and junior Damiah Griffin also scored in double figures with 13 and 11 points, respectively. Sophomore Seygan Robins also was a major contributor with nine points and four steals.

Gallery: (2-1-2021) WBB vs. Southeast Missouri

"I thought our kids played really hard and were really coachable," UT Martin head coach Kevin McMillan said. "For our kids to ramp it up a notch and play like they did without Chelsey makes me extremely proud of them. For us to win, we were going to have to have four or five players in double figures and we did it. We did not turn the ball over and when it mattered, our defense actually got pretty good. Now when we get Chelsey back, our challenge to our players is, how can we do this with her? We haven't been able to figure that out yet. Once we can figure that out, we will be very, very dangerous. They have played very hard the last two games without her and that is what I like to see."

Southeast Missouri (9-7, 7-4 OVC) dropped its second straight league contest despite snapping the Skyhawks streak of holding eight consecutive teams under 40 percent from the field by shooting 48.3 percent for the contest. While the team was efficient from the floor, its 19 turnovers proved costly as it set up 23 points for the Skyhawks.

The Redhawks boasted four players in double figures led by the play of Roshala Scott with 22 points while Tesia Thompson tallied 14 points and nine rebounds. Terri Smith tossed in 12 points and seven steals while Latrese Saine recorded a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.

UT Martin will continue its six-game homestand with a matchup against Jacksonville State on Thursday, Feb. 4. Tipoff from the Elam Center is scheduled for 5 p.m.