Sunday, November 9
Martin, Tenn.
2 p.m.
UT Martin
0-2,0-0OVC
61
vs
72
Tennessee
2-1,0-0SEC
1
2
3
4
F
Tennessee
18
15
19
20
72
UT Martin
17
16
13
15
61
Skyhawks Battle Until End In Loss To No. 8 Lady Vols
11/9/2025 5:48:00 PM | Women's Basketball
MARTIN, Tenn. – The UT Martin women's basketball never backed down from the eighth-ranked Tennessee Lady Vols despite a 72-61 loss Sunday in front of a sell-out crowd in the Pat Summitt Heritage Classic at the Kathleen & Tom Elam Center in Martin. The 11-point deficit was the smallest for the Skyhawks in the past 13 meetings between the two teams.
UT Martin led by as many as eight in the second quarter and was tied with the Lady Vols at halftime. Tennessee never led by more than 15 in the game and did not score a field goal over the final five minutes and six seconds of the contest.
"I thought our kids battled," said head coach Kevin McMillian after the game. "When you have as many great players as Tennessee does, you can't keep them from getting some shots now and then. I thought it was a good effort from our kids, and they executed what we needed to get done pretty well."
The Skyhawks outshot the Lady Vols from both the field, at 44.9 to 44.8, and from three-point range, at 53.8 to 31.0. UT Martin committed just one more turnover than Tennessee Sunday, 23-22, but the Lady Vols took better advantage of those opportunities, outscoring the Skyhawks in points off turnovers, 28-19. The bigger Lady Vols also dominated the boards, outrebounding the Skyhawks, 40-26.
Grace Billington came off the bench to lead all scorers and rebounders in the game with 20 and eight, respectively. Kenley McCarn added 14 points and five assists, while Brittani Wells chipped in 10 points. Sidni Middleton had a solid all-around performance Sunday with seven points and six rebounds and team-highs of six rebounds and three steals.
The Skyhawks will have one week before returning to action next Sunday when they host Fisk at the Elam Center at 2 p.m.
UT Martin led by as many as eight in the second quarter and was tied with the Lady Vols at halftime. Tennessee never led by more than 15 in the game and did not score a field goal over the final five minutes and six seconds of the contest.
"I thought our kids battled," said head coach Kevin McMillian after the game. "When you have as many great players as Tennessee does, you can't keep them from getting some shots now and then. I thought it was a good effort from our kids, and they executed what we needed to get done pretty well."
The Skyhawks outshot the Lady Vols from both the field, at 44.9 to 44.8, and from three-point range, at 53.8 to 31.0. UT Martin committed just one more turnover than Tennessee Sunday, 23-22, but the Lady Vols took better advantage of those opportunities, outscoring the Skyhawks in points off turnovers, 28-19. The bigger Lady Vols also dominated the boards, outrebounding the Skyhawks, 40-26.
Grace Billington came off the bench to lead all scorers and rebounders in the game with 20 and eight, respectively. Kenley McCarn added 14 points and five assists, while Brittani Wells chipped in 10 points. Sidni Middleton had a solid all-around performance Sunday with seven points and six rebounds and team-highs of six rebounds and three steals.
The Skyhawks will have one week before returning to action next Sunday when they host Fisk at the Elam Center at 2 p.m.
Team Stats
UT
UTM
FG%
.448
.449
3FG%
.310
.538
FT%
.647
.714
RB
40
26
TO
22
23
STL
12
7
Game Leaders
Pts
20
FGM
5
3FGM
4
FTM
6
Pts
14
FGM
7
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
7
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
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