Skyhawks Look To Continue Hot Start Sunday at Home Against Mississippi State

Date (Time): Thur., Nov. 8, 2026 (2 p.m.)
Opponent (Record): Mississippi State Bulldogs (1-0)
Head Coach: Sam Purcell (Auburn, 2003)
Record (Seas.) Overall/MSST: 86-48 (5th)/Same
Location (Arena): Martin, Tenn. (Kathleen & Tom Elam Center)
Radio: WCMT 100.5 FM (PxP: Chris Brinkley; Analyst: Davis Gregory)
TV/Streaming: ESPN+ (Same)
UTM vs. MSST: UTM leads series 7-0

The University of Tennessee at Martin women's basketball team rolled to a decisive 105-41 victory over Christian Brothers Thursday night at the Kathleen & Tom Elam Center in Martin. The game marks the first time since 2024 that the Skyhawks have reached 100-plus points and they did so through a total team effort, with 13 of 14 Skyhawks reaching the stat sheet. For the second straight game, UT Martin took care of business down low, scoring 58 points in the paint. The Skyhawks forced the Lady Bucs to turn the ball over 28 times and took full advantage, scoring 42 points off the miscues.
Alorian Story led the Skyhawks with her first Division I double-double of 19 points and 10 rebounds, including five on the offensive glass. Olivia Smith reached double digits for the second consecutive game with 13 points, while Maddie Penney and Sophie Chard Peloquin had 13 and 10, respectively. Sidni Middleton and Olivia Smith had game-highs of six assists, while Smith also had a team-high four steals.
Mississippi State opened its 2026-27 campaign Monday with a 68-27 drubbing of North Alabama, who the Skyhawks host Dec. 5, at home in Starkville. The Bulldogs held the Lions to single digits in every quarter, including just five in the third, and allowed not North Alabama player to score more than six points.
Favor Nwaedozi led the Bulldogs with team-highs of 14 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks. Madison Francis also reached double digits, scoring 13 points with seven rebounds, three steals and three blocks. Reese Beaty added nine to the cause for Mississippi State, while also dishing out a game-high five assists.
Sunday will be the eighth all-time meeting between UT Martin and Mississippi State and the Bulldogs' fourth visit to the Elam Center. Mississippi State has won all seven previous meetings including a low-scoring affair in martin in 2021 that ended in a 54-37 Bulldog victory.
The Skyhawks are off to a 2-0 start on the season, marking the first time they have achieved the feat since the 2018-19 season. The last time a UT Martin team started the season 3-0 was the 2012-13 season, head coach Kevin McMillian's third season at the helm and the first in which he won an OVC title.
Thursday was the 27th time in program history that the Skyhawks have scored 100-plus points, while the 64-point margin of victory is the second-largest in UT Martin history.
UT Martin put up impressive numbers Thursday, shooting 54.7-percent from the floor (41-75) with 57 rebounds, including 18 on the offensive glass, 23 steals and 22 assists.
Through two games, the Skyhawks have displayed how deep their bench is this season, currently ranking 13th in the nation in bench points with 47.5 points per game. The UT Martin reserves scored 30 versus Eastern Kentucky and 65 against Christian Brothers.
The Skyhawks have scored 90 and 104 points in each game this season, respectively. Head Coach Kevin Millan's teams have reached the 90-point mark 38 times in his career and in those games, they are a perfect 38-0.

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Players Mentioned

Sophie Chard Peloquin

Sidni Middleton

Maddie Penney

Olivia Smith

Alorian Story