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RICHMOND, Ky. – UT Martin's Heather Butler poured in a career-high 44 points to lead the visiting Skyhawks to an 87-65 victory over the Eastern Kentucky University women's basketball team Monday night.

In a match-up of OVC division leaders, UT Martin (17-6, 10-0 OVC) rolled to its eighth straight win over the Lady Colonels (12-8, 6-3). The Skyhawks now have a three-game lead over the remaining 11 teams in the league standings.

UT Martin pulled away from EKU early behind an 18-2 run to build a 28-14 cushion. The Lady Colonels committed 15 turnovers in the first 20 minutes of play helping the Skyhawks take a 45-24 lead into halftime.

Eastern Kentucky rallied behind senior Marie Carpenter to cut the deficit to 13, 72-59, with 6:24 remaining, but could get no closer. Butler single-handedly scored the next seven points, including a key three-pointer from the left wing, to end the Lady Colonel threat.

Butler finished the game 12-of-19 (63.2 percent) from the floor and 6-of-11 (54.5 percent) from behind the arc. This was the seventh time this season the senior had reached the 30-point plateau. Jasmine Newsome chipped in with 16 points and six assists.

Carpenter paced the Lady Colonels with 24 tallies, marking the 12th time she has scored at least 20 points this season. The senior from Nashville, Tenn., moved into eighth spot on the EKU all-time scoring list and now has 1,428 career points.

Sophomore Jasmine Henshaw came off the Eastern Kentucky bench to equal personal highs in both points (10) and rebounds (seven).

The Lady Colonels conclude their three-game home swing on Saturday, Feb. 8 against OVC rival Morehead State. Tip time is set for 1 p.m.