2017 OVC Women's Basketball Championship - First Round

3/2/2017 8:35:12 AM

#4 UT MARTIN 59, #5 AUSTIN PEAY 43
NASHVILLE - The University of Tennessee at Martin women’s basketball team flexed its defensive muscles against the reigning Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year while outscoring No. 5 seeded Austin Peay by 17 in the second half to tally a 59-43 victory in the OVC Basketball Championship quarterfinals on Thursday afternoon.

The Skyhawks (12-18) improved to 13-3 in the OVC Basketball Championship since 2010 after posting its best defensive output of the season, holding Austin Peay to just 43 points which ranked as a season-low for UT Martin. The low scoring affair also marked the second-lowest combined scoring total in OVC Basketball Championship history with just 102 combined points.

Despite shooting just 38 percent from the floor, UT Martin overcame an eight-point first quarter by outscoring Austin Peay by 20 points over the final three quarters of play to come away with the victory. After getting crushed on the boards in the two prior contests against the Govs, the Skyhawks narrowly won the battle of the boards 41-37 while limiting the Govs to just 29.3 percent from the floor.

Three Skyhawks scored in double figures, led by the play of Emanye Robertson who tallied 17 points and a career-high nine rebounds. Junior Janekia Mason also posted a big game in a battle of low-post threats, tallying 14 points and seven rebounds in the contests to notch her ninth consecutive game in double figures. Sophomore Myah Taylor also score in double figures, tallying 11 points and five rebounds off the bench.

Austin Peay (14-16) posted three players in double figures, led by newly named OVC Player of the Year Tearra Banks who finished well below her season averages, tallying 10 points and six rebounds in 20 minutes of action. The Govs would be supported with 10 points each from Bri Williams and Brianne Alexander to round out the trifecta.

UT Martin would get off to a slow start, making just one of its first 11 shots before finally finding its second field goal of the contest with just two minutes left in the quarter. While the Skyhawks went through their cold spell, the Governors would lead by as much as six points before ultimately taking a 12-8 lead into the second quarter.

The Skyhawks would go on another three minutes scoring drought in the second quarter which saw the Govs push their advantage out to nine points following a three-pointer in the left corner by Jacey Scott. UT Martin would settle down in the first half’s final minutes as a brief 6-0 run cut the margin down to two points following a back-door layup by Mason. The Skyhawks would ride an 8-1 run into the half, trailing just 23-22 at the break.

UT Martin took its first lead of the game on the opening play of the third quarter on a layup by Robertson to complete the team’s first half comeback attempt. The Skyhawks would stay aggressive riding a 16-1 run dating back to the 3:52 mark of the second quarter to take a 30-23 lead, resulting in a timeout by Austin Peay. After outscoring the Govs by seven in the third quarter - due in large part from eight points by both Mason and Robertson - UT Martin would take a 40-34 advantage into the fourth quarter.

After UT Martin began the fourth quarter on an 8-0 run to push the team’s lead out to 14 points, Austin Peay would respond with a run of its own to trim the margin back down to eight points with just over six minutes to play. With the game still in the balance, the Skyhawks would finish the game on a 9-0 run on the shoulders of Robertson and Ashton Feldhaus to secure a 59-43 victory.

UT Martin will return to action in the OVC Basketball Championship semifinals against No. 1 seed Belmont on Friday, March 3. Tipoff from Municipal Auditorium is scheduled for noon.

#3 SIUE 77, #6 TENNESSEE TECH 69
NASHVILLE -
SIUE women's basketball advanced to the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament semifinals for the third straight season Thursday with an 77-69 triumph over Tennessee Tech at Municipal Auditorium.

The third-seeded Cougars, 14-16, next take on seventh-seeded Eastern Kentucky in the semifinals. Tip-off time is 2 p.m. Friday.

SIUE held Tennessee Tech to nine points in the third quarter and went on a 14-0 run in the period.

Four players scored double figures for the Cougars, including 15 each from Gwen Adams and Lauren White as well as 12 from Nakiah Bell and 10 from Amri Wilder.

Tennessee Tech and SIUE battled through seven ties and eight lead changes over the first 20 minutes.

SIUE shot 50 percent from the field (8-16) in the third period while Tennessee Tech were limited to 23 percent shooting (3-13). The Cougars pushed the ball inside during the period, scoring 16 of 20 points inside the paint.

The Cougars led by as many as 16 against Tennessee Tech, which completed its season with a 10-20 record.

For the game, SIUE shot 24 of 51 from the field (47 percent). Tennessee Tech hit 24 of 56 (43 percent), including 10 three-pointers. Yaktavia Hickson led the Golden Eagles with 25 points.