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Skyhawks ‘hungry’ for respect


Gone are great perimeter shooters Kelly Pendelton and Tracy Webb, the tough determination of T.J. Barker and Jody Miller.

The four means they lost a hug percent of their offense from last year.

“You can’t replace players like we lost,” said Gary Van Atta.

The Lady Skyhawks are predicted to finish sixth. This is the third straight year UTM has been chosen in this position in the preseason poll.

“The ‘Hawks are much better than sixth place,” Gary Van Atta said. “ I think our girls will surprise a lot of people.”

The Lady Skyhawks have a young team and young guards, yet UTM strengths are our ability to play as a team. The Lady Skyhawks had 12 different starters last year and tried to find the right line up. The theme this year is “Ready to run” said Van Atta.

The Skyhawks are expected to spread the floor and play up-tempo.

“The lady Skyhawks are going to have to change our style and use wide-open offense,” Gary Van Atta said. “We need to get up and down the floor and shoot the ball as many times as possible.”

Our ladies have outstanding seniors who will also be our captions this year.

LShanta “Ta-Ta” Morrow, Amy Watson and Randi Morgan. Our team has nine players who seen a lot of playing time last year. Amy Watson returning senior 5’11 forward from Lynchburg, Tenn. Who started 22 of 28 games last season did not start six due to being hurt. She was picked top 10 second team player of OVC. Amy, one of Martin’s premiere players, made big shots at important times last season to help the Skyhawks win. LaShanta Morrow, F/C, 6’0 senior from Laconia, Tenn. is a powerful inside player. She uses her size in the post to great effect.

“She is a determined worker,” says Van Atta.

Randi Morgan, 6’1, who is also a senior forward will play a key role this season to help the Skyhawks. Randi had action in 26 games last year will be a tremendous help to the lady Skyhawks.

Juniors Tiffany Brundige, Julie Young and Lindsey Mazzeti will be huge factors for the team. Brundige, from South Fulton, is an excellent shooter and a quick defensive player. Young, a walk on from Clarksville, will need to play every game like she did last year against Austin Peay. Mazzeti, at 6’5, should challenge for playing time but can be a big factor to the game. Three sophomores, Jenny Lannom, Danielle Page and Leigh Ann Davidson, saw plenty of playing time last season. Page saw action in 27 games and spent the summer playing overseas in Ireland. Page will run the point if the Van Atta’s go with the one-guard offense. Lannom and Davidson are excellent three point shooters. Davidson hit 41 percent last year. All three are tough and ate to lose.

“All of our returning players have experience and we feel good about them,” said Van Atta.

The Van Atta’s added junior college transfer Torre Thomas, from Southwest Community College in Memphis. Freshman Whitney Angel from Obion County Central High School and Keva Robinson from East High School in Memphis were also added to the team this year. Thomas is capable of playing every position on the floor. She is a good three-point shooter and was ranked among the top ten in the country for assist last year.

Angel can handle anything when it comes to basketball. Angel is a competitor from Troy, Tenn., where basketball is the town’s number one priority. Angel handles the ball really well and has solid defense.

“Keva Robinson has it all,” Van Atta said. She is an excellent pass off the dribble. She will grab the rebound. She shoots. She will help the team offensively.

The lady Skyhawks has played in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament’s Final Four three of the past five years and has been in the championship game twice. The Van Atta’s led the Skyhawks to a share of the university’s first women’s crown in 1999. Gary and Kim were named the OVC Co-coaches of the year in 1997-98 for their turn-around work with the program.

“We expect a lot from our players this season,” said Van Atta. “And we are going to give a lot.”