The Skyhawks Feb. 25th matchup against Southern Illinois – Edwardsville (SIUE) was a big one for UTM. Not only did senior forward Maddie Waldrop join the 1,000 point club, but the Skyhawks also claimed their second-straight regular season Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) championship after defeating SIUE 68-52.
Fittingly, Waldrop had a monster game, leading the team in points (19), rebounds (10) and assists (4). Following Waldrop was sophomore forward Dasia Young’s 15 points and junior forward Damiah Griffin’s 14 points off the bench.
The Cougars featured three double-digit scorers in forwards Ajulu Thatha (16), Prima Chellis (11) and Kelsie Williams (11). Chellis was especially effective on the defensive side of the ball, recording team -highs in defensive rebounds (6) and steals (3).
The Cougars jumped out an early lead, going on a 7-0 run to start off the game until Waldrop finally got the Skyhawks on the board with a layup at the 4:45 mark in the first quarter. It didn’t get any better for UTM over the next couple of minutes, as the Cougars extended their lead to 13-2 with a little over two minutes remaining in the first. Four consecutive points by Griffin chipped the lead down to 6-13 at 1:27, but SIUE led 16-10 going into the second.
A steal by senior forward Demi Burdick led to a Waldrop jumper to kick off the second. Griffin’s jumper at 6:34 tied up the score at 20-20, prompting UTM to briefly take their first lead of the game. Waldrop gave her squad their first advantage with a three, followed by a Burdick layup to put the Skyhawks 25-20. The Skyhawks soon surrendered their lead, prompting two more lead changes that ultimately sent the two teams into the third tied 31-31.
The Skyhawks managed to get some separation in the third. Another Griffen layup at 5:43 established the first double-digit lead of the game, as the Skyhawks went up on SIUE 43-34. Though SIUE decreased their deficit back under 10 points multiple times, UTM exited the third with a 12-point 53-41 lead. The final frame of action was uneventful, as the Skyhawks maintained their double-digit lead throughout, even reaching a 20-point lead at 6:34.
With the win, the Skyhawks have claimed their seventh league title and sixth under head coach Kevin McMillan. The Skyhawks, the most decorated team in the OVC over the last 10 years, now claim six of the previous 10 regular season titles. Yesterday’s win also ties the program’s record for most OVC wins in a regular season at 16, matching their win totals from 2014-15 and 2019-20.
“Of all of the championships we have been able to win, this one has to be one of the toughest ones overall because of all of the issues we have had to face,” McMillan said. “We have had to play without our best player – arguably the Player of the Year – for almost half of the conference season. We have four kids that we have had to manage their minutes because of injuries. Then when you add in all of the COVID stuff, it has been hard. I have been impressed with this team because we have had so many different players step in and contribute to a conference championship. The real measuring stick is can you win night in and night out and these kids did. I am extremely proud of what they have been able to do.”
In addition to the team’s accomplishment, Waldrop’s individual performance makes her the 17th member of the Skyhawk 1,000-point club, joining the likes of Perry, current assistant coach Jasmine Newsome and UTM legend Pat Head Summitt.
“Maddie is very, very deserving for a player that is as selfless as she is,” McMillan said. “She is not someone that comes in and says she is going to go out and score a lot of points. She just wants to do what her team needs her to do. I’m glad that she could get to 1,000 because that is a phenomenal feat for anybody in their career.”
The Skyhawks will play their final game of the regular season on Feb. 27, when they’ll travel to Charleston, Illinois to take on the Eastern Illinois Panthers, who they’re slated to play against in the opening round of the OVC Championship tournament.
Photo Credit / Sports Information
