Box Score

RICHMOND, Ky. – A 13-0 run to start the second half by Tennessee-Martin was too much for Eastern Kentucky to overcome in a 61-46 loss at home on Saturday.

Of EKU’s 57 attempts from the field, 29 were from three-point range. The Lady Colonels made only seven three-pointers and were out-scored in the paint 18-4.

Brittany Coles led Eastern Kentucky (3-4, 1-1 OVC) with 13 points off the bench. Alex Jones had 11 rebounds and six points. UT Martin (4-3, 1-1 OVC) was led by a trio of freshmen. Jasmine Newsome, Heather Butler and Beth Hawn scored 46 of the teams 61 points. Newsome had 20 points and eight boards. Butler finished with 15 and Hawn added 11 points.

A jumper by Marie Carpenter with 8:04 on the clock in the first half gave EKU a 7-point lead, 19-12. However, UT Martin went on a 14-2 run to turn its deficit into a 5-point lead, 26-21, on a tip-in by Megan White with 32 seconds before intermission. Eastern’s Reese Bass knocked down a three-pointer with five seconds to go to cut the margin to two, 26-24, at halftime.

Lady Colonels took almost half of their first half shots from three-point range and only connected on 4-of-15. The Skyhawks controlled the boards to the tune of an eight-rebound edge, 24-16.

After the halftime break, UT Martin opened the second period by scoring 13 straight points to build a 15-point lead, 39-24, with 13:19 left in the game. After taking its 7-point lead in the first half, Eastern Kentucky was out-scored 27-5.

Eastern drew to within nine midway through the second half and got as close as eight with 1:54 remaining.

The Lady Colonels fared better on the boards in the second half, out-rebounding the Skyhawks 18-17, but made only 4-of-26 attempts from the field for 15 percent. EKU finished the game 13-for-57 from the field for 23 percent.

UTM shot 46 percent in the second half and 39 percent for the game.

The Lady Colonels will play its next two games against non-conference opponents beginning with a home game against West Virginia State on Tuesday at McBrayer Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Notes
Sophomore Brittany Coles, the OVC leader in blocked shots per game, finished with two blocks against UTM.

EKU had a season-low 10 turnovers against UT Martin on Saturday.

EKU leads the all-time series with Tennessee-Martin 30-13. The Skyhawks have won three straight in the series.