SUNDAY'S SCORES
UT Martin 66, @Vanderbilt 54
@Tulsa 79,
Lindenwood 46
@Morehead State 63, Bellarmine 59
@Kansas 88,
Southeast Missouri 51
UT MARTIN 66, VANDERBILT 54
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee at Martin women's basketball team opened its lengthy six-game road trip with a statement victory at Southeastern Conference foe Vanderbilt on Sunday afternoon, pulling away with a 66-54 decision. The win marked the team's first victory over a Power 5 opponent since 2013.
The Skyhawks (3-5) controlled the tempo throughout most of the contest by taking an eight-point lead into halftime before stretching the margin out to as large as 21 points in the second half. UT Martin led for over 34 minutes of the game while forcing Vanderbilt to commit 24 turnovers – which the visitors translated into 28 points.
After a slow start to the contest which saw UT Martin shoot just 20 percent from the field in the opening quarter, the squad turned things around in the final three quarters by knocking down its attempts at a 53.4 percent clip. The Skyhawks did a lot of their damage by limiting runs, allowing the Commodores to only score as many as two consecutive unanswered baskets in the contest.
UT Martin found a well-balanced effort by its lineup as four of the team's five starters scored in double figures. Graduate guard Paige Pipkin paced the team with a game-high 19 points while freshman forward Sharnecce Currie-Jelks chipped in 16 points and seven rebounds. Rounding out the effort were a pair of 14 points performances by guards Seygan Robins and Shae Littleford while the tandem combined to dish out 13 assists.
Vanderbilt (6-5) dropped its fifth game in its last six outings after a flurry of costly turnovers and offensive fouls put them in an early hole. The Commodores had just one player score in double figures as guard Marnelle Garraud led her team with 19 points.
The Skyhawks will shift their focus to finals this week before returning to action on Monday, Dec. 12 against defending WNIT champion South Dakota State.
TULSA 79, LINDENWOOD 46
TULSA, Okla. - The Lindenwood women's basketball team lost 46-79 to Tulsa on Sunday afternoon in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
The Lions looked to hand the Golden Hurricane their first loss on their home court, extending their non-conference road campaign with today's matchup.
The first quarter worked in favor of the home team, however, as Tulsa started knocking down shots early to gain a 12-point lead before the second quarter, going up 9-17 against the visiting Lions.
More Golden Hurricane dominance would come in the second quarter, forcing Lindenwood to play the majority of their offense on the outside as Tulsa held down the fort inside the paint. Emily Benzschawel made up most of the points in the first half, draining two three pointers to lead the Lions with six total points. Mary McGrath was Lindenwood's strongest defender, posting a team-leading four total rebounds.
Devin Fuhring also finally got her first minutes of the season towards the beginning of the second quarter, knocking down a free throw after instantly becoming involved in the play.
Both teams were deadlocked at seven points a piece throughout the opening minutes of the third quarter, with the Lions coming back out looking to close the gap as quickly as possible. Tulsa was able to extend their lead, however, going up 24-56 with 1:59 remaining in the third. Lindenwood kept fighting regardless, putting up 14 total points in the third as opposed to Tulsa's 23, and things would stand at 29-58 heading into the final quarter.
The fourth quarter consisted of more offensive pressure from Tulsa, but Benzschawel kept heating up despite the Lions' large point deficit. The senior would end the game shooting 8-14 from the floor and 4-7 from behind the arc, leading Lindenwood with an impressive 20 points during her 25 minutes played.
The Lions will finally be back home in Hyland Arena for their next game, which will be on Monday, December 12 against Northern Illinois at 7:00 p.m.
MOREHEAD STATE 63, BELLARMINE 59
MOREHEAD, Ky. - The Morehead State women's basketball team kept Bellarmine to just 9.1 percent from deep in a 1-for-11 shooting performance on the way to a 63-59 win over the Knights at home Sunday.
The Eagles had two players score in double figures, led by Veronica Charles, who posted her second double-double on the season with 18 points and 12 rebounds. Sophie Benharouga tacked on 13 points and Sandra Lin added five points, six assists and two steals.
The Morehead State offense was very productive from downtown, knocking down 10 threes on 27 attempts. Isabel Gonzalez was the most prolific shooter for the Eagles, draining two treys in the contest.
The Morehead State defense held Bellarmine shooters to only 34.4 percent from the field, including 9.1 percent from three-point range. The Eagles also kept Jayla Butler to 3-of-13 shooting and eight points in the game.
The Eagles will now prepare for their matchup against USC Upstate next Monday, with tip-off slated for 11:00 AM.
How It Happened
After falling behind 13-7, Morehead State went on a 9-0 run with 1:38 left in the first quarter, culminating in a three from Aina Subirats, to take a 16-13 lead, a score that would hold for the rest of the period. Morehead State relied on its three-point shooting in the period, knocking down three shots to account for nine of its 16 points.
Morehead State kept its first quarter lead intact before going on a 6-0 run starting at the 9:14 mark in the second period, highlighted by a three from Benharouga, to increase its lead to 22-15. The Eagles proceeded to tack on one point to that lead and enjoyed a 35-27 advantage heading into halftime. Morehead State was strong from deep in the period, knocking down four three-point shots to account for 12 of its 19 points.
Bellarmine then took a 48-47 lead following intermission before Morehead State went on a 5-0 run, punctuated by a basket from Benharouga, to grab a 52-48 lead with zero seconds to go in the third, a score which remained until the end of the third quarter. Morehead State played well near the basket, scoring 12 of its 17 points in the paint.
Morehead State kept its lead intact before going on a 6-0 run, finished off by Charles' three, to grow the lead to 62-54 with 3:51 to go in the contest. The Knights narrowed the margin somewhat before the game was over, but the Eagles still held on for the 63-59 win. Morehead State fired away from deep in the quarter, knocking down two shots to account for six of its 11 points.
KANSAS 88, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 51
LAWRENCE, Kan. - Halle Smith matched a career-high 18 points and had a game-high eight rebounds as Southeast Missouri (3-5) dropped an 88-51 decision to Big 12 Conference member Kansas (7-0) Sunday afternoon at Allen Fieldhouse.
Smith scored 16 of her points in the second half finishing with 18 in a game for the second time in her career
SEMO missed six of its first seven shots and KU hit 72 percent from the field in the opening seven minutes of play. The Jayhawks put together a 22-2 run to get early momentum and never turned back.
Alecia Doyle and Diona Reed each made a jumper for the Redhawks only points in the first quarter as KU led, 30-4, after the first quarter.
SEMO scored eight-straight points toward the end of the second period with a pair of free throws by Halle Smith and a 3-pointer from both Sophie Bussard and Jaliyah Green.
The Jayhawks later headed into the locker room with a 50-18 advantage.
Smith led the way with six points in the third quarter, while Green and and Kennedi Watkins added four apiece.
SEMO then won the final stanza by a count of 17-14.
Smith shot 6-of-16 from the field and a near-perfect 5-of-6 at the free throw line as SEMO's lone double-digit scorer. Green followed with nine points, while Watkins pulled down seven rebounds.
KU, which converted 20 SEMO turnovers into 29 points, shot 46 percent from the field and made 10 threes. The Jayhawks put four starters in double figures with Taiyanna Jackson's 17 points leading the way.
SEMO is back in action when it hosts Western Illinois on Dec. 7.