Skyhawks Look For Back-To-Back Wins Thursday at WIU

Date (Time): Thur., Jan. 9, 2025 (5 p.m.)
Location (Arena): Macomb, Ill. (Western Hall)
UTM Record: 5-10, 2-2 OVC
UTM Last 5 Games: 3-2 (WLWWL)
Opponent (Record): Western Illinois Leathernecks (7-6, 1-3 OVC)
UTM Last 5 Games: 3-2 (WLWWL)
Head Coach (Alma Mater): JD Gravina (William Jewell, 2000)
Record (Seas.) Overall/WIU: 319-260(20^th)/205-199 (16^th)
Radio (Talent): WCMT 100.5 FM (PxP: Chris Brinkley; Analyst: Davis Gregory)
TV/Streaming (Talent): ESPN+ (PxP: Ben Palanca; Analyst: Jaylin Short)
UTM vs. WIU: UTM lead series 3-1

UT Martin scored 30 points in the fourth quarter of Saturday's game against Southeast Missouri at the Kathleen & Tom Elam Center in Martin, propelling them to an 85-69 victory over the Redhawks.
The Skyhawks never trailed in the game but could never seem to put the Redhawks away and led by just four points at the end of the third quarter. However, in the fourth, UT Martin was near perfect offensively, going 10-for-11 from the floor, 2-for-2 from 3-point range and 8-for-10 at the free throw line. The offensive clinic by the Skyhawks led to a 30-18 fourth quarter en route to the 16-point victory.
Shae Littleford and Anaya Brown combined for 43 of UT Martin's 85 points Saturday with Littleford scoring 23 and Brown adding 20. Brown was highly effective Saturday, going 6-for-8 from the floor and 8-for-10 at the line while adding five rebounds, an assist, a steal and a block. Kenley McCarn also finished in double-digits in the game with 15 points, while Lexi Rubel tied Littleford in rebounds and assists with six and three, respectively.
After splitting last weekend's road trip, Western Illinois is now 7-6 overall and 1-3 in OVC play. The Leathernecks had little trouble at SIUE, downing the Cougars, 75-48, but could not get past Eastern Illinois and fell, 70-60. Raegan McCowan currently leads both her team and the OVC in scoring at 20.8 points per game, which is also currently the 12th highest average in the nation. She is also second in the league in rebounding at 8.2 boards per game, which also leads her team.
UT Martin is 3-1 all-time against Western Illinois and 1-1 since the Leathernecks joined the OVC last season, with each team winning its respective home game.
The Skyhawks made 26 free throws Saturday on a season-high 35 attempts. The 35 trips to the charity stripe are the highest for the Skyhawks since going 33-for-38 against SIUE in the OVC semifinals on March 2, 2018.
With seven made 3-pointers against Southeast Missouri, the Skyhawks have now made at least one 3-point field goal in 496 consecutive games, a streak which dates back to Feb. 3, 2009, against Austin Peay and currently, ranks 8th nationally.
With five rebounds against Southeast Missouri, Anaya Brown moved into 14 on UT Martin's career rebounding list with 527, passing Gwen Long and Katie Schubert. She needs just five rebounds to pass Davida Smith and move into 13th all-time and eight to pass Christy Hicks for 12th.

Skyhawks Look For Back-To-Back Wins Thursday at WIU

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Players Mentioned

Anaya Brown

Shae Littleford

Kenley McCarn

Lexi Rubel