MOREHEAD, Ky. (Interstat) — Morehead State built a large first-quarter lead and converted at the free-throw line to defeat Tennessee-Martin 67-49 in an Ohio Valley Conference women’s basketball game Thursday at E.T. Johnson Arena. The Eagles opened with a 25-point first quarter and led by 11 at halftime. The Skyhawks never recovered, despite scoring 28 points in the paint. Morehead State sealed the win by making 13 of 14 free throws, including six in the final quarter. Landon Forbes led Morehead State with 16 points. Zakheria Thompson scored 16 for Tennessee-Martin. The Eagles improved to 8-8 overall, while the Skyhawks fell to 6-7.

HALDEMAN, Ky. (Interstat) — The Morehead State Eagles used a dominant first quarter and a decisive rebounding advantage to pull away from the Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks for a 67-49 victory in an Ohio Valley Conference women’s basketball game Thursday night at E.T. Johnson Arena. The Eagles, who improved to 8-8 overall, set the tone immediately, racing out to a 25-12 lead after the opening period. They connected on four 3-pointers in the quarter, two from guard Marie Sepp, and never looked back, leading wire-to-wire. The Skyhawks, who fell to 6-7, could not overcome the early deficit despite a more competitive second and third quarter, as their offense struggled with efficiency throughout the contest. Morehead State’s offensive success was fueled by its perimeter shooting and ability to capitalize on Tennessee-Martin mistakes. The Eagles shot 12 of 33 from beyond the arc, compared to just 4 of 15 for the Skyhawks. Morehead State also converted 22 points off 18 Tennessee-Martin turnovers, while the Skyhawks managed only 12 points off 12 Eagles turnovers. The most important part of the game was Morehead State’s immediate and overwhelming start. The Eagles opened the game on a 13-2 run, establishing a commanding lead before the Skyhawks could find any rhythm. Tennessee-Martin’s first-quarter turnovers and defensive lapses allowed Morehead State to build a cushion that proved insurmountable, especially given the Skyhawks’ own offensive woes. This early surge dictated the entire tempo and outcome of the conference matchup. Landon Forbes led all scorers for Morehead State with 16 points, adding three assists. She was one of four Eagles in double figures, joined by Kate Dike and Josefine Enander, who each scored 14, and Sepp, who finished with 12. Dike, a 6-foot-3 forward from Kyiv, Ukraine, also contributed three assists and was a force defensively. Sepp, from Tallinn, Estonia, played a game-high 38 minutes and dished out two assists. Tennessee-Martin was paced by Zakheria Thompson, who scored 16 points. Kenley McCarn added 13 points and three assists, while Brittani Wells handed out a game-high five assists. Beyond the scoring, Morehead State controlled the glass, outrebounding the Skyhawks 11-5 on the offensive end, which led to 11 second-chance points. The Eagles also excelled at the free-throw line, making 13 of 14 attempts. Tennessee-Martin, meanwhile, shot just 39.6% from the field and 58.3% from the foul line while committing 18 turnovers. The game, organized by the Ohio Valley Conference, drew an attendance of 510. According to National Statistical’s ELO system, Tennessee-Martin had entered with a slight 51.30 percent probability to win. Tennessee-Martin will look to rebound quickly, traveling to face Southern Indiana on Saturday. Morehead State continues its homestand, hosting Southeast Missouri State on Saturday.

HALDEMAN, Ky. (Interstat) — A pair of Ohio Valley Conference teams trending in opposite directions will meet Thursday when the Morehead State Eagles host the Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks in a women’s basketball matchup at E.T. Johnson Arena. The Skyhawks (6-6) enter on a three-game winning streak, including a 58-51 victory over Eastern Illinois last Saturday. Tennessee-Martin has found its rhythm in conference play, with forward Zakheria Thompson emerging as a key contributor. Over her last five games, Thompson is averaging 9.2 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per contest. She posted a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds in a double-overtime win over Western Illinois on Jan. 1. Morehead State (7-8) has also won its first two OVC games but has struggled for consistency overall, dropping five of its last eight. The Eagles are coming off a 54-49 road win at SIU Edwardsville, powered by a dominant performance from guard Kate Dike. The standout scorer poured in 29 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in that victory, highlighting a recent surge where she has averaged 16.8 points over her last six outings. The matchup pits Tennessee-Martin’s momentum against a Morehead State team protecting its home court, where the Eagles are 5-2 this season. The Skyhawks will look to their balanced attack, which saw Kenley McCarn score 21 points and Brittani Wells add 10 points, six rebounds and five assists against Eastern Illinois. For Morehead State, containing Thompson inside and finding secondary scoring behind Dike will be critical. Marie Sepp (15 points) and Laura Toffali (eight rebounds) provided support in the win over SIU Edwardsville. This game is the first of two regular-season meetings between the programs, with the rematch scheduled for Feb. 7 in Martin, Tennessee. Following Thursday’s contest, Tennessee-Martin visits Southern Indiana on Saturday, while Morehead State hosts Southeast Missouri State.