UT MARTIN WOMEN’S HOOPS PLACES FIVE IN DOUBLE FIGURES AGAINST EKU IN HOME FINALE

Saturday, February 20

Martin, Tenn.

1 p.m.

UT Martin

16-4, 15-2OVC

Eastern Kentucky

8-13, 7-10OVC

Eastern Kentucky

UT Martin

UT MARTIN WOMEN’S HOOPS PLACES FIVE IN DOUBLE FIGURES AGAINST EKU IN HOME FINALE

2/20/2021 7:50:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score PDF Postgame Press Conference Highlights Photo Gallery

MARTIN, Tenn. – For the first time this season, the University of Tennessee at Martin women's basketball team featured a balanced offense which saw five players score in double figures to close out the home portion of the 2020-21 schedule and knock off Ohio Valley Conference foe Eastern Kentucky 81-62 on Saturday afternoon.

The Skyhawks (16-4, 15-2 OVC) set a new season high point total with 81 points – eclipsing the previous high of 80 points which they reached on three different occasions. On an emotional day which featured Senior Day recognitions for the post duo of Maddie Waldrop and Chelsey Perry prior to the contest, it was the squad's guards which stole the show especially from beyond the arc where they knocked down a season-high 13 threes while shooting 54.2 percent.

Meanwhile on the defensive end, UT Martin held Eastern Kentucky to 35.3 percent from the field – marking the 13^th time this season that the Skyhawks have held their opponent below 40 percent from the floor. The Skyhawks also tallied eight steals and six blocks while forcing 16 turnovers to key their defensive effort.

With the win, UT Martin finished the home portion the of the regular season slate with a 9-1 mark while posting an average margin of victory of 15.7 points. The Skyhawks also improved to 125-26 in the Elam Center – including a mark of 91-12 against league foes – over the past 12 seasons.

Sophomore Seygan Robins equaled her career-high with 18 points on the afternoon – knocking down 6-of-8 three-point attempts on the day while also dishing out four assists in just over 23 minutes of action. Senior Maddie Waldrop went out with a bang in potentially her final game in the Elam Center by posting her 13^th career double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds while tallying four blocked shots.

Junior Zaire Hicks came off the bench to also tally a new season-high with 12 points. Sophomore Dasia Young marked the third of four starters to eclipse double-digits with 11 points while junior Paige Pipkin rounded out the Skyhawks in double figures with 10 points and six assists.

Gallery: (2-20-2021) WBB vs. Eastern Kentucky

"It has been a crazy year and we haven't had the crowd that we usually have because of COVID and I hate it for our two seniors in Maddie and Chelsey," UT Martin head coach Kevin McMillan said. "I wish they had them here tonight to honor them, but I appreciate those that were able to come. In one way you hope its their last game because you want them to start their next life as professionals but selfishly we would love to have them back. They have demanded a certain level of culture here and have left this program better than where they found it. Everything about those two personifies what student-athletes are supposed to be. I loved that their teammates were able to escort them out. We can talk about basketball and wins but at the end of the day, those six kids will be friends for life. The reason I want to win championships is for our kids and their relationships."

"I thought today's game was a really good ending to the home season," McMillan continued. "It was probably the best all-around game we have played and now is the time of year that we need to be stepping it up. We were able to stretch out and grow leads. We haven't been able to do that, but today we did. I like that we have so many different kids that can do something for us and we are going to need everyone pulling together to make a special run. This was a good win over a team that was playing well."

Eastern Kentucky (8-13, 7-10 OVC) jumped out to a hot start in the first quarter, scoring 20 points while holding a lead as large as six points. The Colonels settled down from there and struggled from the field through the second and third quarters – making just 7-of-26 (29.1 percent) field goal attempts. EKU failed to place a player in double figures while Kendall Wingler led the team with nine points.

The first half would see the teams go back and forth with the lead changing hands five times and become tied on four occasions. After the Skyhawks closed out the first quarter with a 22-20 lead, the Colonels came out of the second on fire with a 10-0 run of their own to retake a six-point advantage midway through the period. UT Martin would recover however, stringing together an identical 10-0 run to head into halftime on top 35-31.

UT Martin looked to build upon its advantage in the third period and never lost the lead for the remainder of the contest. Neither squad would post significant runs in the third but the Skyhawks would pull away by outscoring the Colonels by eight in the period to take a 57-45 lead into the fourth. The Skyhawks found additional breathing room in the final quarter and cruised to an 81-62 home victory.

The Skyhawks will close out the regular season on the road beginning with a matchup at SIUE on Thursday, Feb. 25 at 1 p.m.