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MARTIN, Tenn. – UT Martin shot 52 percent in the second half as the Skyhawks pulled away from Eastern Illinois for an 81-51 win on Wednesday night in Martin, Tenn.
EIU fell to 7-13 overall, 4-3 in the OVC. EIU will host Austin Peay at 1 p.m. on Saturday in Lantz Arena with the national touring act the ZooperStars!!! set to perform. UTM won its sixth straight improving to 10-9 overall, 6-0 in the OVC.
Both teams opened the first half with hot shooting as EIU shot 52 percent in the opening half and UTM shot 53 percent. The Skyhawks used a 16-2 points off turnover advantage in the opening half to lead 36-31.
EIU was 3-of-3 from 3-point range in the opening half with
Shakita Cox draining a pair of 3-pointers and
Grace Lennox knocking home another. In the second half EIU was 0-for-4 from beyond the arc.
Ashia Jones took over the second half for the Skyhawks as she finished with 26 points, one of three UTM players in double figures. UTM shot 52 percent in the second half finishing at 53 percent for the game.
The Skyhawks quickly extended their five point halftime lead to a double figure lead as Tiara Caldwell had a pair of lay-ups. Caldwell finished with 10 points.
Jumpers by
Bh'rea Griffin and
Phylicia Johnson cut the Skyhawks lead back to single digits with Johnson's bucket cutting UTM's lead to 48-39 with 15:35 to play. Jones went to the free throw line on the next possession and EIU never challenged after that point. Former EIU player Danielle Woolfolk had 12 points for UTM.
Sabina Oroszova was the lone EIU player in double figures as she posted a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. EIU shot 39 percent for game. Cox finished as the Panthers second leading scorer with eight points.