The UTM women’s basketball team opened a grueling Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) road swing which will feature three games in five days with a 56-51 victory at Austin Peay on Friday afternoon.
The Skyhawks (13-4, 12-2 OVC) saw their schedule condensed after weather forced the postponement of Thursday’s contest against the Govs and pushed back to a Friday matinee. Much like the weather outside, it took a while for both squads to get their offenses to heat up as the game’s first field goal was finally scored at the 4:19 mark of the first quarter. Even from there each team struggled to find much of a rhythm offensively in a contest which featured 39 turnovers and saw both teams combine to shoot just 35 percent from the field.
UTM would steadily improve over the course of the contest and use its size and length to its advantage. The Skyhawks tallied 32 points in the paint while winning the battle of the boards by 10. Along with the team’s ability to capitalize in the paint, the Skyhawks also drew 22 fouls and cashed in by making 19-of-23 free throw attempts.
Playing short-handed once again without two of the team’s regular starters in Chelsey Perry and Seygan Robins, the Skyhawks saw its rotation shrink to just eight players. Reigning OVC Player of the Week Dasia Young scored a game-high 16 points – including 13 points in the second half – while tallying seven rebounds in 40 minutes of action. Making her first start of the season in the place of Robins, junior Sade’ Hudson made the most of her opportunity by tallying season-highs in points (12), rebounds (five) and minutes played (33).
Senior Maddie Waldrop posted a well-rounded afternoon with nine points and four rebounds while tallying four blocks. Fellow senior Demi Burdick provided valuable minutes off the bench with season-highs in points (eight), rebounds (seven) and blocks (one).
Austin Peay (10-6, 8-4 OVC) saw its three-game winning streak come to an end on a poor shooting afternoon as the Govs shot just 30 percent from the floor and 25.8 percent from beyond the arc. Still playing back into form after the team’s recent shutdown, the Govs saw three player score in double figures with Maggie Knowles and Brianah Ferby leading the team with 12 points each while Shay-Lee Kirby tallied 10 points off the bench.
UTM has a quick turnaround ahead of them with a road matchup at Murray State scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 13. Tipoff from the CFSB Center is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN+.
