Skyhawks Begin Final Four Games of Season at Home Tuesday

Date (Time): Tue., Feb. 18, 2025 (5:30 p.m.)
Location (Arena): Martin, Tenn. (Kathleen and Tom Elam Center)
UTM Record: 11-16, 8-8 OVC
UTM Last 5 Games: 2-3 (LWWLW)
Opponent (Record): Tennessee State Tigers (8-18, 4-12 OVC)
TSU Last 5 Games: 3-2 (WLLWW)
Head Coach (Alma Mater): Candice Dupree (Temple, 2006)
Record (Seas.) Overall/TSU: 8-18 (1st)/Same
Radio: WCMT 100.5 FM (PxP: Chris Brinkley; Analyst: Davis Gregory)
TV/Streaming: ESPN+ (PxP: Chris Brinkley; Analyst: Davis Gregory)
UTM vs. TSU: UTM leads series 40-32

The University of Tennessee at Martin women's basketball team nearly erased a 17-point third quarter deficit against Eastern Illinois, but ultimately fell, 66-62, at Groniger Arena in Charleston Saturday afternoon.
The Skyhawks led by one at the end of the first quarter, 18-17, but a cold shooting spell plagued them in the second and third quarters, as they went just 5-for-20 over the middle 20 minutes of the game.
In the fourth quarter, UT Martin whittled Eastern Illinois' 14-point lead down to just three with a little over three minutes remaining in the game. Despite the Panthers ballooning the lead back up to eight, the Skyhawks were able to cut the lead to four, but that would be as close as they would come.
After a rough start to the season, Tennessee State has now won three of its last five game and stands at 8-18 overall and 4-12 in OVC play. The Tigers are coming off of a convincing 77-58 road win over SIUE Saturday. The Tigers currently average 64.3 points per game on 38.1-percent shooting, while allowing 72.3 points per game on 41.6-percent shooting. Somah Kamara currently leads TSU in scoring at 13.8 points per game, while Lyric Cole leads the Tigers in rebounding at 8.3 boards per game.
Tennessee State's win over the Skyhawks in Nashville in January inched them closer in the all-time series between the two teams, but UT Martin still holds the overall lead 40-32. In Martin, the Skyhawks hold a commanding lead in the series, winning 25 of 34 all-time meetings at the Elam Center. In recent history, Tennessee State has been more competitive in the series, with UT Martin winning just six of the last 10 meetings, including dropping the last two decisions to TSU.
Anaya Brown finished Saturday's game at EIU, with 25 points, just one point shy of her career-high, on 9-of-17 shooting including a six-for-six performance at the free throw line. She also pulled down team-highs of five rebounds, three steals and one block on the afternoon. Brown currently leads the Skyhawks in both scoring and rebounding on the season at 14.2 and 5.4, respectively.
The magic number for UT Martin when it comes to scoring seems to be 70. The Skyhawks are currently 10-1 when scoring 70-plus point this season, only losing to Lindenwood, 79-73. Conversely, when scoring 69 or fewer points, UT Martin is 1-15, after scoring just 62 against EIU Saturday.
After Anaya Brown became the 18th member of UT Martin's 1,000-point club on January 30, the 19th member does not appear to be far behind. Currently sitting at 968 career points, Kenley McCarn needs just 32 points to reach the historic milestone. If she completes the task before the end of the season, she will become just the fourth sophomore in program history to join the exclusive club, along with Heather Butler, Jasmine Newsome and Ashia Jones.
With three made 3-pointers against EIU, UT Martin has now made at least one 3-pointer in 508 consecutive games. The current streak dates back to Feb. 3, 2009, against Austin Peay and currently, ranks seventh nationally.
With five rebounds against EIU, Anaya Brown remains 12th on UT Martin's career rebounding list with 597. Brown's next targets on the list are Larissa Maciarz at 11th with 600 and current UT Martin associate head coach Jasmine Newsome at 10th with 604. She needs just four rebounds to pass Maciarz and seven to officially join UT Martin's Top Ten list for career rebounds.

Skyhawks Begin Final Four Games of Season at Home Tuesday

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Players Mentioned

Anaya Brown

Kenley McCarn