UTM women’s basketball team is set to open the home portion of Ohio Valley Conference play when playing host to league rival Murray State on Thursday, Jan. 10. Tipoff from the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. and is will be streamed on ESPN+.
UTM has tallied 239 home victories since 1995, making the friendly confines of the Elam Center a daunting place for visiting teams. During head coach Kevin McMillan‘s tenure, the Skyhawks have posted a 95-23 record at home for an .805 winning percentage. The Skyhawks have also posted a 66-10 home record against OVC foes during the same span.
The Skyhawks enter Thursday’s contest with a 9-4 overall mark while sitting 1-1 in the league standings after splitting contest against Eastern Illinois and Southeast Missouri. In the team’s latest meeting, UTM overcame an 18-point deficit in the third quarter to rattle off an 80-73 comeback road victory at SEMO. Four different players scored in double figures in the contest with Murray native Maddie Waldrop scoring a team-high 20 points while notching eight rebounds. Chelsey Perry (17 points), Emanye Robertson (15 points) and Damiah Griffin (13 points) also scored in double figures.
UTM ranks as the ninth highest scoring offense in the country, averaging 83.9 points per game while defensively ranking fourth in the nation with 13.1 steals and 11th with 22.7 turnovers forced per game. The Skyhawks currently boast two players averaging in double figures on the season in All-OVC forward Chelsey Perry with 11.7 points per game while four-time OVC Freshman of the Week Damiah Griffin averages 11.2 points.
Murray State is 5-8 on the season with a 1-1 mark in league play. The Racers split the opening conference weekend by falling to Morehead State before defeating Eastern Kentucky on Saturday. Highlighting the Racers is two-time OVC Player of the Week and four-time OVC Newcomer of the Week Evelyn Adebayo who nearly averages a double-double with 18.5 points and 9.9 rebounds per game. Three-time OVC Freshman of the Week Macey Turley averages 11.2 points and 5.1 assists from the guard position.
Thursday’s matchup marks the 86th meeting between the two programs with UTM holding a 51-34 series advantage. The Skyhawks have won the last four meetings while holding a 17-3 record against the Racers under McMillan.
The game will be televised live on ESPN+. Fans can also tune into WCMT 1410 AM, 100.5 FM, 92.7 FM, 96.1 FM, 99.7 FM and 103.3 FM to hear Chris Brinkley (play-by-play) and Eddie Suiter (color) provide analysis. WUTM, UTM’s award-winning student radio station, will also broadcast the game on 90.3 FM. Links for both radio broadcasts, along with live stats can be accessed through their respective links above. For in-game updates, follow the Skyhawks on twitter @UTM_Gameday.
