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UTM wins thriller over Lady Panthers, 66-63


The UTM Women's basketball team was back in action last night taking on the Lady Panthers of Eastern Illinois University. The Skyhawks put up 33 points in both halves to win the game 66-63.

Nine and half minutes into the game, the Skyhawks found themselves in a bit of a tight spot. Down 15-6, UTM just couldn't seem to get into a successful rhythm. Janelle Cazy was leading the charge for the Lady Panthers and they soared to a 20-10 lead with 9:28 left in the half.

Down but not out, a resurgent Skyhawk team led by Jenny Lannom jumped back into the game going on a 19-8 run late in the first half. The Skyhawks grabbed the lead with 3:08 left in the opening half and started to pour it on.

With 1:30 left in the half, Andreika Jackson hit a jumper to make the score 33-31, and that's the way it stayed going into the break at the half, UTM up by two points.

Lannom led the Skyhawks in scoring in the first half with nine points, Julie Young added seven points of her own.

The second half was almost a copy of the first. EIU came back from the break on a mission and seven minutes into the second frame found themselves with a 45-37 lead. EIU eventually extended their lead to 48-39, before the Skyhawks switched it back into high gear.

UTM began chipping away at the Lady Panthers' lead. Young and Willingham led the way for the Skyhawks and they pushed hard until they tied the game up a 57-57 with 3:15 left in the game.

Young hit a jumper with 53 seconds left in the game to put UTM up 62-61. EIU then decided that if the Skyhawks wanted to win, they would make them do it from the free-throw line. Jackson lived up to that by hitting her two charity stripe attempts with 26 seconds left to put UTM up 64-63.

Jackson went back to the line within the next few seconds, missing both shot, but an EIU turnover on an inbound pass would be their undoing. The Lady Panthers sent Page to the line with one second left in the game, and she sealed the win for the Skyhawks by hitting both shots from the charity stripe and giving UTM a 66-63 win.

The Skyhawks were led by Young who put up a total of 18 points in the game. Jackson added 12 points of her own. Jackson also led the rebound department with 11 boards on the night, giving her a double-double for the evening. UTM improves to 7-8 in Ohio Valley Conference play, and10-15 on the year.