CHARLESTON, Ill. (Interstat) — A surging Tennessee-Martin women’s basketball team looks to continue its climb in the Ohio Valley Conference standings when it visits struggling Eastern Illinois on Thursday night at Lantz Arena.

The Skyhawks (9-8, 4-2 OVC) have won three straight games, most recently a 67-56 road victory at Southeast Missouri State on Jan. 20. They will face a Panthers squad (3-18, 2-4) mired in a four-game losing streak, including a 52-48 defeat at Morehead State on Saturday.

Tennessee-Martin won the first meeting this season, 58-51 at home on Jan. 3. In that game, Skyhawks guard Norah Clark was held to three points but contributed six rebounds. Clark has been pivotal during the win streak, averaging 11.3 points and logging 40 minutes in each of the last two contests. She scored a team-high 16 points in the win over SEMO.

Eastern Illinois will rely on forward Sydney-James Desroches, who is coming off a 16-point, eight-rebound performance at Morehead State. Desroches was limited to four points but grabbed 10 rebounds in the first matchup against UT Martin. Teammate Ava Stoller also scored 16 in the team’s last outing.

The Skyhawks’ recent success has been built on defense, holding opponents to 60.3 points per game during their three wins. Eastern Illinois has struggled offensively, failing to reach 60 points in three of its four consecutive losses.

The Panthers will aim to protect their home court, where they earned two of their three wins this season, including a 75-74 victory over Tennessee Tech on Jan. 8. Tennessee-Martin seeks its first three-game OVC winning streak of the season.

Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. EST. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.