By Alex Boggis, UT Martin Sports Information Director
Tournament Central
Kansas State: Big 12 Now/ESPN+ Live Stats
North Carolina A&T: YouTube Live Stats
Western Kentucky: YouTube Live Stats
Tournament Notes
Two-time defending Ohio Valley Conference champions University of Tennessee at Martin women’s basketball team will officially open its 2021-22 season this weekend with a three-game appearance in the 2021 WNIT Preseason Classic to be played in Manhattan, Kansas running from Friday, Nov. 12 through Monday, Nov. 15.
The Skyhawks (0-0) will open the season on Friday, Nov. 12 with a matchup against Big 12 foe and venue host Kansas State with tipoff scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Big 12 Now/ESPN+. Following an off day, UT Martin will square off against former MEAC champion and current Big South member North Carolina A&T on Sunday, Nov. 14 (3:30 p.m.) before wrapping up its tournament slate against Conference USA foe Western Kentucky on Monday, Nov. 15 (4 p.m.) – with the later two contest being broadcast on YouTube.
This is UT Martin’s second appearance in the Preseason WNIT event after joining the field in 2013 with the team going 2-1. The Skyhawks picked up wins over Georgia State (84-80) and Quinnipiac (102-97 in overtime) while dropping its lone road matchup at No. 25 Gonzaga (L, 91-54).
UT Martin enters the season looking to revamp its squad after losing over 70 percent of its scoring production from last season’s team which went 22-6 and won a pair of contests in the Postseason NIT at the Memphis Regional. 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 totals seven returners and welcomes seven newcomers into the fold.
The Skyhawks are under the direction of head coach Kevin McMillan who enters his 13th year at the helm of the program, posting a 240-142 record while totaling four OVC Coach of the Year honors. McMillan currently ranks third in total wins in OVC history while his 240 victories ranks first amongst active coaches. During his tenure, the Skyhawks have recorded eight 20-win seasons, six regular season league titles, nine postseason appearances and finished in the top-four in the league standings every season.
Graphic courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information