By Ryne Rickman, UT Martin Sports Information Director
CHARLESTON, Ill. – Freshman Sharnecce Currie-Jelks hauled in the third double-double of her blossoming young University of Tennessee at Martin career but Eastern Illinois used a 20-3 run in the third quarter to create separation in a 73-50 setback in Ohio Valley Conference women’s basketball action.
A Jackson, Tenn. native, Currie-Jelks registered 11 points plus game-highs of 10 rebounds and three blocks in 29 minutes of playing time. Paige Pipkin led the Skyhawks (10-14, 6-7 OVC) in scoring for the first time since Dec. 4 against Vanderbilt, generating 13 points in just 15 minutes off the bench.
Anaya Brown equaled Currie-Jelks for a game-high with 10 rebounds, falling just one shy of her career-high tally. However, UT Martin shot 26.7 percent (16-for-60) from the field and committed 21 turnovers.
Eastern Illinois placed four scorers in double figures, led by Miah Monahan’s 16 points. Lariah Washington (13), Lyric Johnson (12) and Taris Thornton (11) also managed double-digit scoring nights as the Panthers improved to 20-3 overall and 13-0 in OVC play.
“Eastern Illinois is an experienced team and we had no answer for their runs,” Skyhawk head coach Kevin McMillan said. “It was a physical game and we couldn’t answer the bell.”
After the Panthers scored the first six points of the contest, a turnaround jumper by Currie-Jelks at the 7:22 mark got UT Martin on the scoreboard.
About 90 seconds later, Currie-Jelks ignited a 7-2 Skyhawk run with a layup that was followed by a pair of Shae Littleford free throws. A fast break trey from Pipkin wrapped up the run and pulled UT Martin within four points (13-9) at the 4:54 mark of the first quarter.
Eastern Illinois scored 15 of the next 16 points to lead by a 28-10 margin with 7:41 to go before the halftime break.
The Skyhawks answered right back with a 12-1 surge, led by five points apiece out of Pipkin and Seygan Robins. The senior duo buried three-pointers on back-to-back possessions to cut the Panther lead to 29-22 with 6:13 remaining in the opening half.
Another Robins trey and a putback by Currie-Jelks in the final 2:30 made the score 37-29 after 20 minutes of play.
Pipkin accounted for a game-high 10 points at the intermission as UT Martin held Eastern Illinois to 25 percent shooting (5-of-20) in the second quarter. Washington’s nine points guided the Panthers.
Eastern Illinois was first to score in the third quarter but Lexi Rubel quickly converted a strong take to the hoop to keep the margin at nine.
The Panthers tallied the next 11 points of the contest before a Pipkin right-wing three-pointer ended the Skyhawk scoring drought and made the score 51-34. Eastern Illinois came right back to score nine unanswered on the way to a 62-36 lead at the end of the third quarter.
Currie-Jelks scored on UT Martin’s opening possession of the fourth quarter but the Panthers followed with an 11-3 run. The Skyhawks accumulated the next nine points as Sydneey Boykin (three-pointer and floater) and Brown (two inside buckets) joined forces to trim the deficit. However, UT Martin’s deficit was too large to overcome.
The Skyhawks return home for their next two outings, starting with a Saturday, Feb. 11 matchup against OVC rival Little Rock. The game, which begins at 1 p.m., will serve as Senior Day and as a Basketball and Cheer Reunion event. Pipkin and Robins will be recognized during pregame for their career contributions as part of Senior Day festivities.
Graphic courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information