Posted: Dec 30, 2023
By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – After a slow start in the first quarter, Tennessee Tech rallied from a 13-point first-quarter deficit and took the lead over the visiting UT Martin Skyhawks as the third quarter came to a close.
However, UTM outscored the Golden Eagles 21-11 in the fourth quarter, surging ahead and taking a 67-58 victory Saturday afternoon in the Hooper Eblen Center.
Tech (5-8, 0-2 Ohio Valley Conference) hits the road on Thursday and Saturday as they head to Morehead State and Southern Indiana before coming back to the Hoop on Jan. 13 to take on Southeast Missouri.
Maaliya Owens led the Golden Eagles with 14 points, including four 3-pointers, while Reagan Hurst scored 12 and Anna Walker missed a double-double with 11 points and a team-high seven rebounds.
Kenley McCarn led the Skyhawks (5-8, 2-0 OVC) with 20 points, while Anaya Brown scored 16 on a 7-for-10 day and Lexi Rubel made a case for a triple-double with 14 points, 10 rebounds and five assists.
UTM dominated the glass, collecting 39 total rebounds to Tech's 27. The Golden Eagles were held to just one rebound in the first quarter, but saw the rebound collection add up and nearly even out until the late push from the Skyhawks.
The paint was also the place to be for UTM as it was able to use its size to collect points inside – as well as create some open lanes under the basket – to outscore the Golden Eagles 36-18 in the paint.
While many of the other statistical factors were nearly even, there was still the shooting percentage. With another slow shooting start in the opening 10 minutes, Tech knocked down 3-of-11 shots in the first quarter, including two 3-pointers, while going 4-for-4 at the free-throw line.
The downside was the Skyhawks knocked down 8-of-11 on their end with two 3-points, while also shooting 7-for-7 at the stripe to take a 25-12 at the end of the quarter.
Tech rallied in the second quarter, building a seven-point streak to cut away at the deficit with four consecutive Skyhawk possessions resulting in turnovers. As the second period came to a close, the Golden Eagles outscored UTM 16-7 and it was a 32-28 Skyhawk lead at the intermission.
The tide looked like it had turned as the Golden Eagles put together a 10-0 streak midway through the third quarter to counter another early run from the Skyhawks. Tech took a 40-38 lead, but UTM answered with a 6-0 run. However, as the quarter came to a close, the Golden Eagles possessed a 47-46 lead.
After UTM opened the fourth quarter on a 7-0 run to make it 53-47, Tech answered back as Reghan Grimes hit a layup, Reagan Hurst hit a jumper, then Anna Walker tied the game at 53-all with 3:57 left. Tech only scored five more points in the contest, while the Skyhawks scored 14. McCarn took over with 10 points in the fourth quarter alone.
The Golden Eagles shot 4-for-16 in the final stanza, hitting 1-for-7 from 3-point range and 2-for-4 at the stripe. For the game, Tech finished 19-for-59 from the field, 8-for-26 from 3 and 12-for-14 at the free-throw line.
The Skyhawks shot 24-for-28 in the game for an even 50-percent clip, knocking down 5-of-13 3-point tries. UTM finished 14-for-18 from the free-throw line.
Photo | Jim Dillon
