Women's Basketball Off to Best OVC Start Since 2009-10 After W over UT Martin Thursday

MOREHEAD, KY --Skylar Barnes and Veronica Charles combined to score 37 total points - 66.1 percent of Morehead State's points - in the Eagles 56-38 win over the UT Martin Skyhawks at home Thursday. 

Barnes led the Eagles (10-7, 5-1 OVC) with 20 points and three steals. Charles added 17 points, six assists and two steals and Katie Novik helped out with eight points and two blocks off of the bench. At 5-1, the Eagles are off to their best start in the OVC since the 2009-10 season.

Morehead State collected 41 rebounds in Thursday's game compared to UT Martin's 25, led by 14 boards from Blessing King. The Eagles also cleaned up the offensive glass, turning 14 rebounds into seven second chance points.

The Morehead State defense held UT Martin shooters to only 31.7 percent from the field, including 20 percent from three-point range. The Skyhawks did not get many second opportunities on the offensive end, as they grabbed only five offensive rebounds and scored six second chance points while Morehead State pulled down 27 defensive rebounds.

How It Happened

After falling behind 8-2, Morehead State went on a 5-0 run with 3:12 left in the first quarter, culminating in a three from Novik, to narrow its deficit to 8-7. UT Martin answered back and added to its lead, leaving the Eagles down 10-7 entering the second quarter.

UT Martin kept adding to that lead, building a 16-12 advantage before Morehead State went on an 8-0 run, highlighted by a bucket from Barnes, to take a 20-16 lead. The Skyhawks cut into that lead, but the Eagles still enjoyed a 22-20 advantage heading into halftime. Morehead State forced six UT Martin turnovers in the period and turned them into seven points.

Morehead State wasted no time building on its lead, going on a 7-0 run, punctuated by a basket from Charles, to expand its lead further to 29-20 with 5:14 to go in the third. Before the conclusion of the third period, the Skyhawks had cut into that lead somewhat, but the Eagles still entered the fourth quarter with a 36-30 edge.

Morehead State kept its lead intact before going on an 11-0 run, finished off by Barnes' jumper, to grow the lead to 49-36 with 3:27 to go in the contest. The Eagles kept expanding the margin and coasted the rest of the way for the 56-38 win. Morehead State got up and down the court quickly in the quarter, scoring four fast break points.

Game Notes

» The Eagles held the Skyhawks to only 31.7 percent shooting from the field.
» Morehead State never trailed in the second half on its way to victory.
» Skylar Barnes, Veronica Charles, and Katie Novik combined to account for 80 percent of the Eagles points.
» Morehead State had a 41-25 edge on the boards in the win.
» The Morehead State defense forced 21 turnovers.
» Morehead State cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 14 offensive boards in the game.
» Skylar Barnes led the Eagles with a game-high 20 points.
» Morehead State got a game-high 14 rebounds from Blessing King.

Morehead State ranks second in the OVC, and have a tough road trip ahead on Saturday, as the Eagles head to Evansville for a matchup with top-ranked Southern Indiana.