UT Martin’s Kenley McCarn scored 40 points to help lead her team past Lindenwood, 73-70, Saturday afternoon at the Kathleen & Tom Elam Center in Martin.
The game was back and forth from the jump, with 19 total lead changes and 10 ties in the contest. Up by one with 16 seconds to play, Aleshia Jones gave Lindenwood a three-point lead, 70-67, on a layup after a Skyhawk turnover.
With six seconds left in the game, Norah Clark pulled UT Martin within one on a driving layup at 70-69. After a subsequent foul by the Skyhawks, Lindenwood missed both free throws to leave the Lions up by just one. With two seconds left, McCarn was fouled going up for a shot and hit both free throws to put her team on top, 71-70.
With 1.7 seconds left, McCarn intercepted the inbound pass from Lindenwood and was fouled, sending her to the free throw line again, where she sealed the 73-70 win by making both free throws. The Lions had a look at a game-tying shot, but it did not go in, as UT Martin held on for its seventh consecutive home victory. The Skyhawks ended the game on a 6-0 run over the final six seconds of the contest.
The Skyhawks shot a season-high 59.1-percent from the floor, 41.7-percent from 3-point range and went 16-for-19 at the free throw line in the game. Ten of UT Martin’s 16 made three throws Saturday came in the fourth quarter, where it went 10-for-11.
With 40 points, not only did McCarn set a new career high, but she became the first player since Chelsey Perry in 2019 to score 40 or more points for the Skyhawks in a game. She ended the game by going 14-for-16 from the floor, 4-for-4 from 3-point range and a perfect 8-for-8 at the free throw line, in addition to four rebounds, three assists and a steal. Norah Clark added 11 points on the afternoon for UT Martin to go along with four rebounds, two assists, two steals and a 5-for-6 clip at the free throw line.
The Skyhawks will have a short turnaround for their next game, traveling to Southeast Missouri on Tuesday to take on the Redhawks at the Show-Me Center at 5:15 p.m. Hear the Skyhawks on WCMT 1410, 92.7, 96.1, 99.7, 100.5 and 103.3
