NASHVILLE – The Lipscomb University Women's Basketball team fell in a heartbreaker to the University of Tennessee at Martin, 63-60, Thursday night inside Allen Arena. 

Final Score: Tennessee Martin 63, Lipscomb 60
Location: Allen Arena
Records: Lipscomb (2-6), Tennessee Martin (3-4)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
It was a cold start for both squads, but a top-of-the-key triple by Elena Bertrand and a jumper by McKayla Miller, both off of UTM turnovers, gave Lipscomb the 5-4 lead midway through the opening quarter. 

After Addison Melton had a second-chance 3-pointer to make the advantage 8-4, UT Martin finished the frame with an 8-0 run to flip the lead to the visitors, 12-8, after 10 minutes of action. 

The rust was shaken off to start the second quarter for the Bisons, as they answered the Skyhawks' 8-0 run with a 9-0 run of their own that saw long-distance shots from Miller and Molly Heard to swell the lead to 17-12. 

However, just like a teeter-totter, UTM used an 8-2 run to even the score at 20 points apiece at the 6:11 mark in the quarter. 

Lipscomb pulled away late in the period, despite a three-minute scoring drought on both sides. Miller, who scored eight points in the second quarter, ended the Bisons drought with a second-chance hoop as the home squad took a 26-22 lead into the locker room. 

The third quarter saw four ties and six lead changes, with neither team having a better than a one-possession lead. Hope Counts gave Lipscomb the three-point edge, 41-38, with a three-pointer, but a Sidni Middleton turn-around jumper made it a 41-40 lead after three quarters of play. 

In the fourth, the Bisons got out to a four-point lead right out of the gate, as Heard recorded an and-one to lead 44-40. 

The game became a free-throw affair from there, but the Skyhawks used a Lipscomb turnover with over seven minutes to go to reclaim the lead, as Kenley McCarn knocked down a 3-pointer to lead 46-45. 

However, Lipscomb used a 7-0 run, capped by a game-tying three-pointer by Olivia Vinson, to even the score at 54.

UTM was able to ice the game with four straight points from the free throw line, 60-56. However, the Bisons did have one last gasp after Kenley McCarn went 1-of-2 at the line with four seconds left. 

After a timeout to advance, the Bisons had the chance from the right wing, but the shot was short, and the Skyhawks escaped Allen Arena with the win. 

QUOTABLE
Hear from head coach Lauren Sumski postgame. 


HERD NOTES
Lipscomb scored 25 points off of UT Martin's 21 turnovers, including 18 points by the Bisons in the first half. 

KEY STATISTICS
The contest saw seven ties and 12 lead changes. 

McKayla Miller scored 14 points with seven rebounds and two steals, while Olivia Vinson added 10 points off the bench. 

Hope Counts added seven points, six rebounds and two blocks. 

UP NEXT
Lipscomb's next contest will be against the Lady Tigers of Tennessee State. Tip is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Sunday afternoon in Allen Arena.