By Alex Boggis, UT Martin Assistant Sports Information Director
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – In a preseason poll of the league’s head coaches and sports information directors, the two-time defending Ohio Valley Conference regular season champion University of Tennessee at Martin women’s basketball team has been predicted to finish fourth in the league standings.
Belmont was picked as the preseason favorite after receiving 15 first place votes and 159 points overall while Tennessee Tech received two first place votes and 134 total points. Murray State also garnered three first place votes while receiving 125 points to rank third while UT Martin came in fourth with 104 points. Austin Peay (95), Southeast Missouri (91), Eastern Illinois (83), SIUE (44), Morehead State (43) and Tennessee State (23) completed the 10-team poll.
The Skyhawks are coming off one of the team’s most successful seasons in program history in which the squad posted a 22-6 overall record while going 17-2 in OVC play en route to their seventh regular season conference title. Along with earning a berth into the Postseason Women’s NIT, UT Martin became the first program in OVC history to notch multiple postseason victories by defeating both Louisiana and Illinois State in a successful tournament run.
While the UT Martin has not finished below fourth place in the league standings under the direction of head coach Kevin McMillan, the Skyhawks will have to recalibrate a refreshed roster. Along with the loss of two All-OVC first team selections – including a WNBA Draft selection in two-time OVC Player of the Year Chelsey Perry – the Skyhawks will need to replace 70.5 percent of the team’s scoring from their championship roster a season ago.
The team will feature key returners Seygan Robins (7.7 ppg, 3.3 apg), Paige Pipkin (7.3 ppg, 2.8 apg) and Kyannah Grant (3.4 ppg, 2.0 apg) to lead a squad which welcomes seven newcomers into the fold.
The Skyhawks will open the season on Nov. 12 in the Preseason Women’s NIT with a matchup against Kansas State. For information on season tickets, call the Skyhawk Ticket Office at 731-881-7207.
2020-21 OVC Women’s Basketball Predicted Order of Finish
1. Belmont (15 first-place votes) – 159
2. Tennessee Tech (2 first-place votes) – 134
3. Murray State (3 first-place votes) – 125
4. UT Martin – 104
5. Austin Peay – 95
6. Southeast Missouri – 91
7. Eastern Illinois – 83
8. SIUE – 44
9. Morehead State – 43
10. Tennessee State
2021-22 Preseason All-OVC Women’s Basketball Team
Preseason OVC Player of the Year: Destinee Wells, Belmont
Name, School, Position
Macey Turley, Murray State, G
Destinee Wells, Belmont, G
Katelyn Young, Murray State, F
Abby Wahl, Eastern Illinois, F/C
Conley Chinn, Belmont, F
Yamia Johnson, Austin Peay, G
Lariah Washington, Eastern Illinois, G
Anna Jones, Tennessee Tech, G
Jordan Brock, Tennessee Tech, G
Kesha Brady, Tennessee Tech, G
Tuti Jones, Belmont, G
Mackenzie Coleman, Tennessee Tech, G
Graphic Courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information