Golden Eagles end UTM streak, topple Skyhawks 77-73
February 6, 2021

Golden Eagles end UTM streak, topple Skyhawks 77-73

MARTIN, Tenn. – The old Yogi Berra saying goes, “It ain’t over ‘til it’s over.” Tennessee Tech proved the adage true on Saturday. UT Martin went on small runs and the Golden Eagles found ways to stand strong and bounce back. Despite trailing by 12 early in the fourth quarter, the Golden Eagles weren’t backing down. But something clicked in the fourth quarter. A fantastic all-around team effort, led by a thrilling effort from Jordan Brock, saw Tech hand UT Martin its second Ohio Valley Conference loss of the season with a dramatic 77-73 victory on Saturday in the Elam Center.

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By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information

MARTIN, Tenn. – The old Yogi Berra saying goes, "It ain't over 'til it's over."

Tennessee Tech proved the adage true on Saturday. UT Martin went on small runs and the Golden Eagles found ways to stand strong and bounce back. Despite trailing by 12 early in the fourth quarter, the Golden Eagles weren't backing down.

But something clicked in the fourth quarter. A fantastic all-around team effort, led by a thrilling effort from Jordan Brock, saw Tech hand UT Martin its second Ohio Valley Conference loss of the season with a dramatic 77-73 victory on Saturday in the Elam Center.

The victory gives the Golden Eagles their 10th win of the season, improving to 10-6 overall, 8-5 in the league. UT Martin sees its 10-game winning streak come to an end, falling to 12-4, 11-2 in the OVC. It also ends the Skyhawks' 19-game OVC home winning streak – started after Tech's last victory at the Elam Center two years ago.

Early in the fourth quarter, the game might have seemed insurmountable, trailing by 12 points with just over nine minutes remaining.

In the final 10 minutes, the Golden Eagles scored 32 points – more than the first two quarters combined.

Brock ended the game with 32 points – one shy of tying her career-best of 33 – while tying her career-high in 3-pointers made with eight. In the fourth quarter alone, Brock scored 17 points, going 6-for-9 from the field and 5-for-8 from long-range.

It wasn't just Brock's effort that led the Golden Eagles – Megan Clark had a terrific outing on both ends of the court, pulling down a career-high six boards – five in the fourth quarter -- and collecting 11 points on 4-for-8 shooting, but also drained a huge 3-pointer. She led Tech in scoring in the first half and was a major factor in keeping the game close against the league leaders.

When the game came down to free throws as UT Martin tried to retake the lead, Kesha Brady and Jada Guinn came up with big free throws as Brady was 3-for-4 and Guinn was 2-for-3.

In addition to Brock's 32, Brady ended the game with 14 points, while Brady had 12 and Clark 11.

UT Martin also had four double-digit scorers, with Maddie Waldrop leading the way with 22 points on 7-of-9 shooting and 3-for-3 from long-range. Dasia Young scored 17 points, while Seygan Robins and Kyannah Grant each had 11. It was the third game in a row that the Skyhawks did not have leading scorer Chelsey Perry, but the team's offensive production has not dwindled in the stretch.

Through the first quarter, UT Martin was able to build a six-point lead, 15-9, just before the end of the first 10 minutes. The Skyhawks extended the advantage to 12 late in the second quarter, but five points for Brock and a jumper for Guinn in the last 1:22 of the half sent UTM to the locker room with a 35-28 lead going into the intermission.

There wasn't much headway made in the third quarter as both teams ended the period with 17 points, but the Golden Eagles were able to tie the game at 45 with 3:20 remaining in the third. But UTM ended the stanza with a 7-0 run to make it a 52-45 contest heading to the final 10 minutes.

The Skyhawks opened the fourth with five more points, but then the momentum started to shift. In a 1:09 span, Brock knocked down 3-pointers on three consecutive possessions, cutting the deficit down to three. After a Young jumper on the other end, Anna Jones drew a foul on a good layup and completed the 3-point play. Seygan Robins made a bucket with 5:27 left, then Brock answered with a jumper of her own.

Tech tied the game as Clark stole the ball from Robins, but missed the 3-pointer. Guinn grabbed the board and put herself in position for the bucket, knotting the game at 61 and drawing a foul. Guinn missed the and-one, but Clark pulled away the offensive board. Guinn dished the ball back to Jones, who then knocked in the layup to give Tech a 63-61 lead with 4:29 remaining.

Paige Pipkin tied the game up on a pair of free throws, but Brock came down and drained a three with 3:23 left. Grant cut it to a one-point Tech lead on a layup, but Clark answered with a 3-pointer off of the pass from Jones. Grant drew a foul on a layup, but missed the resulting free throw try. Brock took a pass from Guinn and the ball was true for another 3-pointer, Tech now leading 72-67 with 2:27 left.

Neither team scored until there were 20 seconds left. Brock fouled Grant, who split her throws at the line, cutting Tech's lead to four. Mackenzie Coleman missed two shots on the other end, but Guinn was there for the rebound and drew a foul from Sade Hudson. Guinn hit both, extending Tech's lead to 74-68 with 13 seconds left.

Pipkin put in a layup with nine ticks remaining, then Robins immediately fouled Brady, who split her throws to make it a 75-70 game with seven seconds left. On the other end, Waldrop drained a three, making it a two-point game with three seconds on the clock.

Without a second thought, the Skyhawks fouled Brady again. Coming into the game as a .783 shooter at the line, the senior was patient. She knocked in the first, making it a three-point game once again. Calmly, Brady sank the second, icing the contest.

The Skyhawks rushed down as quickly as they could in the two seconds left, but was only able to muster a desperation throw as the Golden Eagles rushed back to the bench, celebrating with their teammates.

The Golden Eagles return home on Thursday, hosting SIUE at 5 p.m.

Photo | Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information