by MARTIN, Tenn. – For the first time in six seasons, the University of Tennessee at Martin women’s basketball team has strung together a nine-game winning streak following a comeback victory over Ohio Valley Conference rival Southeast Missouri on Monday afternoon, picking up an 80-70 win to sweep the regular season series.
The Skyhawks (11-3, 10-1 OVC) pushed the team’s winning streak to nine games which ranks as the fifth longest winning streak over the past 12 seasons. The last team to win at least nine games was the 2015-16 squad which posted 10-consecutive victories stretching from Jan. 9 through Feb. 10. The win also marked the Skyhawks 18th consecutive home victory against an OVC opponent.
UT Martin had to battle back from an early deficit and a double-digit margin in the second quarter. Southeast Missouri came out shooting red-hot in the first half, knocking down 58.6 percent of its attempts – including four three-pointers – to lead for the entirety of the first. UT Martin would turn up its defensive effort in the third period, holding SEMO to just 4-of-15 (26.7 percent) from the field, while taking its first lead at the 7:31 mark. The game’s lead would ultimately change hands five times in the third before the Skyhawks took control with 3:05 to play in the period and never looked back.
Playing without one of the nation’s top scorers in Chelsey Perry proved to not be an issue for the Skyhawks who found contributions throughout their lineup for the second straight game. Highlighting the scoring column was the play of sophomore Dasia Young who scored a career-high 25 points while tallying six rebounds. Young played a huge role in the early portion of the game – scoring 19 points in the first half alone.
Joining the starting lineup for the injured Perry was junior Kyannah Grant (Navajo/Mississippi Choctaw) who filled in nicely at the guard position, tallying season-highs with 15 points and nine assists. Senior Maddie Waldrop and junior Damiah Griffin also scored in double figures with 13 and 11 points, respectively. Sophomore Seygan Robins also was a major contributor with nine points and four steals.
