Rematch: Women's Basketball hosts UT Martin in OVC Battle
January 20, 2013

Rematch: Women's Basketball hosts UT Martin in OVC Battle

It's been two years since the Golden Eagles have won the battle for the skies, but the University of Tennessee Martin enters the Hooper Eblen Center Monday, Jan. 21, for a rematch of the 2011 and 2012 Ohio Valley Conference Tournament Championship.

Recap Box Score

 

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- It's been two years since the Golden Eagles have won the battle for the skies, but the University of Tennessee Martin enters the Hooper Eblen Center Monday, Jan. 21, for a rematch of the 2011 and 2012 Ohio Valley Conference Tournament Championship.

The Skyhawks enter the rematch with two losses in the conference and Tech off the heels of a tough loss in Charleston, Ill. against Eastern Illinois. Although there are four other games being played around the OVC, all eyes will be on the Eblen Center. 

Tennessee Tech (10-8, 4-1 OVC) vs. UT Martin (9-11, 4-2 OVC)
Monday, Jan. 21, 2013
7:00 p.m. CT
Hooper Eblen Center - Cookeville, Tenn. 

The Broadcasts
TV: none
Radio: Fox Sports Radio, 106.1 The Eagle (Roger Ealey)
Webcast: OVC Digital Network (Brandon Goodwin)
 Live Stats

Setting the Stage
 The senior class has played UT Martin five times in regular season action over the course of their careers, and has accumulated a 2-3 record but is 0-2 in tournament action, both meetings occurring in the OVC Tournament Championship. 

In their past four meetings, UT Martin has scored 82.5 points per game, and Tech gave up 89 points against EIU in its last outing. Over the past week, the Golden Eagles have spent hours in the gym preparing for this game, but Jim Davis and his team, this is just another game. Another conference game that must be won.

Since the season began, every opponent has circled, starred and highlighted its game against Tennessee Tech. There is no opponent that does not seek enjoyment from dethroning the king of the skies. UT Martin is no different, and while they have had the advantage over the past few years, this game has been on the minds of the Skyhawks since preseason rankings came out in October. 

The Tech Athletics Dept. is hosting "Take A Kid To The Game" night, an event that allows one free youth admission (ages 3 through 18) with each paid admission.

A Glance at the 2012-13 Golden Eagles
 The Golden Eagles are led by senior Guard Jala Harris. Harris tied her career high 26 points in the win over SIUE shooting a 66.7 clip from the floor, dishing out seven assists in 33 minutes of play.  Harris scored 12 points against a tough EIU team, dishing out five of the team's 10 assists as the Golden Eagles shot 52 percent from the floor. 

Tech has shot 50+ percent from the floor five times this season and in three of their past three games. Much of Tech's precision has come from Diamond Henderson and Lashay Davis. Henderson leads the team with 15.2 points per game. Davis averages 7.5 points per game on the season, but 11.2 points per 40 minutes in conference action. 

While Tech's guard play is the major contributer to the Golden Eagles offense, junior forward Molly Heady is averaging 9.0 points per game and 6.2 rebounds per game in OVC play. T'Keyah Williams, Tech's main center out of Florida, has tossed in 5.8 points and grabbed 5.0 rebounds per conference game.

A Look at the Skyhawks
 UT Martin had a hiccup in the middle of the season, dropping two conference competitions to Murray State and Belmont, but the Skyhawks appeared to have bounced back, winning two straight, including a 75-56 victory Saturday over Morehead State. 

All season the Skyhawks have been led by junior guards Heather Butler and Jasmine Newsome. The pair is currently averaging 43.4 points per game as the top two scorers in the conference, while also leading the top scoring offense in the OVC. 

 

For complete game notes, please click here.