By Rob Schabert, Assistant Athletic Director for Sports
Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Jessy Ward poured in 17 points in the
first half, helping UT Martin construct a double-digit lead at the
intermission, and the visiting Skyhawks got 16 second-half points
from Ashia Jones to hand Tennessee Tech a 79-59 loss Thursday night
in Eblen Center in Ohio Valley Conference action.
Ward finished with 26 points and Jones had 29 and eight rebounds
for the Skyhawks on the way to their season-best fourth consecutive
victory. The win allowed UTM (8-9/4-0 OVC) to remain unbeaten in
conference play. Tiara Caldwell also notched double digits with 12
points.
Tech (5-13/2-3 OVC) was led by Candace Parson
with 17 points, nine rebounds and three blocked shots, while Tionne
Herron added 11 points for the Golden Eagles. Hannah Goolsby
finished with nine points and five assists.
The Golden Eagles rode the hot hand of Candace Parson in the early going to forge a five-point lead five minutes into the contest.
A 3-pointer by Karisma Tyson with 11:42 to play in the opening half broke a 13-all tie and put the Skyhawks in the lead. UTM's lead sprouted to 10 points at 6:01 on a jumper by Jones to make it 28-18.
A trey by Catherine Taylor and a jumper from Samaria Howard trimmed the difference to 31-27, but the Skyhawks closed the half with back-to-back 3-pointers from Ward in the final seconds to build the lead to 13 points at the break, 43-30.
UTM was 6-for-10 from long distance in the first half, including a 5-for-7 effort from Ward as she notched 17 points in 14 minutes of action. Parson had 11 at the break, shooting 5-for-8 from the field.
UTM pushed the difference early in the second half, eventually going up by 22 points midway through the period, 66-44.
Tech trimmed the lead to 13 with 5:26 remaining on a layup by Yaktavia Hickson, before the Skyhawks closed the contest with an 8-1 run for the final margin.
The Golden Eagles face their sixth, and final, OVC West Division
foe on Saturday with a matinee contest at Southeast Missouri.
Tipoff in the Show-Me Center is set for 3:30 p.m.
