SATURDAY'S SCORES
Tennessee Tech 67, @Marshall 60
@UAB 56
, UT Martin 51
TENNESSEE TECH 67, MARSHALL 60
HUNTINGTON, W. Va. - Tennessee Tech defeated Marshall, 67-60, on Saturday.
The Golden Eagles were led by sophomore T'Keyah Williams with a game-high 18 points, scoring double-digits for the third time this season. Williams, a 6-2 center, dominated the paint in the second half, scoring 14 points, including two three-point plays in the final minutes of the game. Williams took over the game, diving for balls, and never giving up a fight on the boards. Although the stats show only three rebounds, Williams helped her teammates find the ball, tipping several on the offensive end.
Tech hit the court running, opening the game with a 16-8 lead over Marshall, but the Herd came thundering back thanks to Golden Eagle fouls. Marshall's defense could not stop Tech's shooters, as it appeared the Golden Eagles couldn't miss shooting 53.6% from the floor and 50% from behind the arc in the first half.
The Purple and Gold moved the ball effortlesslly, creating enough ball movement to find an open man just about every shot. Many of the times that open man was freshman Mariah Dean. Dean had a career night as well, scroing 12 points in 14 minutes of play, going 6-9 from the paint, and grabbing five rebounds. Dean's play helped Tech jump to 34-29 lead at the half.
The second half brought a much more physical Marshall team. They forced the ball into the paint, and scored despite having defenders all around them. Marshall edged Tech 44-42 in the paint, and earned more trips to the foul line going 13-16 from the charity stripe. Still, the Golden Eagles fought hard never letting the Herd within four.
Joining Williams, Harris and Dean on the offensive attack were Lashay Davis with nine points, Kellie Cook with six, Molly Heady with four and Diamond Henderson with two. Henderson also added four assists, and Heady led the Golden Eagles with nine rebounds. Davis again led Tech's defense with four steals.
The Golden Eagles will return to action after the holiday break on December 29. Tech will compete in their first Ohio Valley Conference test of the season as it travels to Jacksonville State. Tip-off is slated for 2:00 p.m.
UAB 56, UT MARTIN 51
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Seniors Rickiesha Bryant and Shelby Crawford combined for more than 50 percent of The University of Tennessee at Martin’s rebounds Saturday afternoon against UAB at Bartow Arena in Birmingham.
It was enough for UT Martin to outrebound the host Blazers 43-42, but it wasn’t enough for the Skyhawks to wrap up their non-conference slate with a road victory. UAB claimed a 56-51 decision over UT Martin.
The Skyhawks were 6-of-7 from the free throw line, while UAB was 17-of-23.
Junior guard Heather Butler finished the game with 20 points to lead UT Martin and all scorers. Butler scored 11 points in the final 3:26 of the game to keep the Skyhawks in the game down the stretch.
Bryant finished the game with 10 points and nine rebounds, while Crawford, who lives just two hours from Birmingham, led all rebounders with 11.
The Skyhawks trailed by 12 points, 52-40, with 3:42 to play in the game.
Karisma Chapman led UAB with 17 points. Amber Jones, who didn’t play against Morehead State, finished the game with 12 points and Chelsee Black added 11 points.
With the setback, UT Martin will open Ohio Valley Conference play on Dec. 31 against Jacksonville State with a 5-9 worksheet. UAB, the second Conference USA team the Skyhawks have played in the last five days, is 8-3.
Both teams made five 3-pointers in the contest. UT Martin was 5-of-29 from behind the arc, while UAB was 5-of-13.
UT Martin enjoyed its largest lead of the game in the first half after weathering UAB’s 4-0 opening.
The Skyhawks answered UAB’s 4-0 game-opening lead with an 8-0 run which included 3-pointers by Butler and White. Crawford also added a layup.
Newsome added a pair of layups and the Skyhawks led 17-12 with 7:40 to play in the first half. However, UAB answered with a 14-0 run and claimed an 18-17 lead when Karisma Chapman made a layup with 5:54 to play in the half.
The Skyhawks scored for the first time in more than six minutes and cut UAB’s lead to four points, 24-20, when White made a 3-pointer with 3:14 to play.