UT Martin
1-0,0-0OVC
Eastern Kentucky
0-1,0-0UAC
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Ky. | 33 | 12 | 18 | 26 | 89 |
| UT Martin | 22 | 18 | 24 | 26 | 90 |
11/2/2026 9:46:00 PM | Women's Basketball
MARTIN, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin women's basketball team won its 2026-27 opener dramatically with a 90-89 win over Eastern Kentucky Monday night at the Kathleen & Tom Elam Center in Martin. Raven Sims led five players in double figures, with a debut double-double of 28 points and 10 rebounds.
The Colonels jumped out to an early advantage in the game and led the Skyhawks by as many as 11 in the opening quarter. However, the Skyhawks bounced back and trailed just 45-40 at the half, then outscored Eastern Kentucky 24-18 in the third to take a 64-63 lead into the final 10 minutes.
UT Martin steadily built on the lead in the fourth quarter and led by as many as eight with 2:38 remaining. The game, however, was far from over, as the Colonels outscored the Skyhawks 10-3 down the stretch. Eastern Kentucky had two cracks at the basket in the last nine seconds, but could not get either to fall as the Skyhawks held on for their first win in a season opener since 2018.
Both teams pounded the paint Monday, but the Skyhawks did it just a little bit better, outscoring the Colonels there, 48-42. UT Martin also got more out of its bench in the game, with its reserves outscoring Eastern Kentucky's, 30-18. UT Martin also shot 49.3-percent from the floor in the contest and outperformed the Colonels at the free-throw line by going 18-for-24 (75.0) compared to 24-for-39 (61.5) by EKU.
Tyler Jones followed Sims on the night with 13 points, while Kennedy Horton added 12 and Sidni Middleton and Olivia Smith each had 10.
UT Martin returns to action at the Elam Center Thursday night when it hosts Division II Christian Brothers at 7 p.m.
