Messenger Sports Briefs for January 19

UTM lady Newsome
honored by OVC

UT Martin’s Jasmine Newsome was named the adidas® Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Week for the second consecutive time and the third time this season.
Newsome led the Skyhawks in scoring this past week at Tennessee Tech and Jacksonville State. The Millington native scored 17 points against Tech and knocked down a career-high 30 points in the come-from-behind victory at Jacksonville State. She shot 47 percent from the field and 81 percent from the free throw line over the two games.
Newsome is the third UT Martin player to win this honor. A UT Martin freshman has picked up this accolade nine out of 10 weeks this season.
Newsome and the Skyhawk women return to action tonight at 7:30 when they host Southeast Missouri.

Ex-Lady Pilot Smith
shines on WKU track

In the first full team meet since returning from the holidays, the Western Kentucky University track and field teams had numerous strong individual showings at the Kentucky Invitational.  
In particular, Fulton Couty product Sharika Smith — a standout during her prep career at Union City’s Rotary Relays — stood out.
For the second time in this young season, Smith set a new Lady Topper standard in the triple jump, winning the event with a leap of 42 feet, 31⁄2 inches — which betters her nation-leading mark. In the long jump, Smith finished fourth with a leap of 19 feet, 51⁄4 inches.  
The teams will return to action next weekend in Champaign, Ill., to compete in the Illini Classic.