Tennessee-Martin Photo
Love Mays was bitterly disappointed a year ago when Danville lost in the 12th Region Tournament title game to Mercer County and missed a trip to the state tournament.
However, now she’s headed to the big dance — the Women’s NCAA Tournament.
Tennessee-Martin lost the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament championship game 81-53 to regular-season champion Southern Indiana Saturday but Southern Indiana is in the second year of its four-year reclassification to Division I and ineligible to play in the NCAA.
That’s why UT Martin coach Kevin McMillan rested four starters in the title game and used only his other six players to help his team rest and recover from a physical season.
The one starter for UT Martin (16-16) to play in the title game was Mays.
“It was good for my experience and got me more minutes to prepare me for the NCAA,” Mays said. “I am just so excited to be going to the NCAA with such a young team. We have tried to figure out who we are all year with all the injuries we have had.”
Mays had four points, six rebounds and five assists in the OVC tourney final. She has started nine of 31 games this season and averaged 20.5 minutes, 4.5 points, 1.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.2 steals per game.
She was a prolific scorer for coach Judie Mason at Danville where she averaged 21.8 points and 5.8 rebounds per game when she earned all-state honors. She was the Most Valuable Player in the Ohio-Kentucky All-Star Game after scoring a game-high 23 points.
“It’s good to have certain players who I know can score if I get them the ball. It’s something I enjoy and I am learning from them and seeing things they are doing since they have more experience than me,” Mays said. “I have learned a lot of things this year that have made me a better player and shaped me into somebody better. I try to keep that same offensive attack mentality I had in high school. All that has made me a better player and person. I am learning a lot and it is making me better.”
Mays, an education major, stays in touch with Mason and her senior teammates from last season and knows they are excited for her NCAA opportunity. She also realizes UT-Martin likely will be a No. 16 seed and have to face a No. 1 seed in the NCAA.
“I am looking forward to it. We are going to have fun and enjoy the moment all we can and whatever happens, happens,” Mays said.
