by MARTIN, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin women’s basketball team struggled to find its rhythm and match the flow of visiting Southern Illinois, dropping the team’s final home game during non-conference play by a score of 69-54.
The Skyhawks (3-7) dropped their fifth straight game to mark their longest losing streak since the 2016-17 season after allowing a season-high 69 points to the visiting Salukis on Wednesday night. UT Martin came out of the gates strong defensively, limiting SIU to just 11 points in the opening quarter but saw the margin explode in the final three quarters by allowing 58 points.
The contest got off to a back-and-forth pace in the first quarter as both teams combined to put up 26 shot attempts in the opening 10-minute segment but each squad shot in the low-30s. Despite the low percentages, the game saw the lead change hands seven times and become tied once in the first period alone with neither team taking an advantage larger than two points. The narrative changed however in the second period due in large part to a 9-0 run by the Salukis which stretched out a lead they would not relinquish down the stretch.
Southern Illinois (4-3) overcame its slow start to shoot 52.2 percent from the field for the game – including making 6-of-13 three-point field goals. A total of four different Salukis scored in double figures but none more than Makenzie Silvey who scored a game-high 23 points while making 5-of-6 three-point attempts. Abby Brockmeyer chipped in 13 points to rank second on the team while both Gabby Walker and Laniah Randle scored 10 points each to round out the quartet in double figures.
UT Martin found a bit of offensive flow in the fourth quarter – equaling its best fourth quarter of the season with 19 points – but it proved to be too little too late. The Skyhawks shot 40.5 percent from the field for the evening while making 17-of-21 (81.0 percent) free throw attempts. Juniors Paige Pipkin (15 points) and Kyannah Grant (15 points) led the team offensively while true freshman Shae Littleford also joined the pair in double figures with a career-high 10 points.
