Tennessee-Martin’s Phyllisha Mitchell and Crystal Fuller are some of the top rebounders in the Ohio Valley Conference.

Unfortunately for the Skyhawks, they’re one of the last in the conference.

Mitchell pulls down 10.1 rebounds a game, which is second in the conference. Fuller pulls down 9.2 rebounds per game, which is tied for third in the conference.

Fuller and Mitchell will use their inside game against Eastern tonight a 5 p.m. at Lantz Arena.

It’s not rebounding that keeps Tennessee-Martin in their games, but it’s also the inside scoring from Mitchell and Fuller. Without the two post players, the Skyhawks (3-10, 0-3 OVC) could be in a worse position than they already are.

Mitchell averages 11.6 points per game (14th in the league) and Fuller averages 14.1 points per game (eighth in the league).

“She’s a good all-around person,” Fuller said. “She can be a dominating person. Her determination. is a natural thing. She can do a little bit of everything. She’s been key everywhere.”

Mitchell, a junior, was the spark behind Tennessee-Martin’s success last season when she helped the Skyhawks finish in sixth place and made it to the OVC Tournament semifinals.

Mitchell’s composed on the court, but finds herself more composed on the golf course, especially in the off season, where she can relax.

“I’m better at basketball than in golf,” Mitchell said who played in high school. “It’s quiet out there and you can just relax.”

Mitchell is also relaxed off the court when she’s not getting double teamed on the court.

“She’s funny, very funny, humorous,” Fuller said. “When it comes time to get down to business, she does.”

The Memphis native garnered preseason conference honors and is trying to help the struggling Skyhawks, who have lost all 10 games on the road or at a neutral site this season.

Tennessee-Martin’s struggle has been to win games on the road with a team that has athletic talent. Mitchell’s brother played basketball at Memphis and her uncle played basketball at Oklahoma State.

Mitchell and the Skyhawks finished 11-1 at home last season and are 3-1 this season.

UTM head women’s basketball coach Tara Tansil had this nice 1-2 lineup last season.

She had Mitchell and 2007 graduate Andreika Jackson last season. Then Jackson suffered a knee injury that left the bulk of the rebounding and the scoring to Mitchell. It allowed Mitchell to step up, but at the end of the season it left the Skyhawks wondering if Jackson had remained healthy, how far could they have come?

Jackson’s injury allowed Fuller to step up as well. Fuller finished with season highs of 20 points and 12 rebounds against Murray State in last year’s OVC Tournament semifinal.

“She leaves everything out,” Tansil said. “She’s hard to figure out. She’s hard to stop.”

The Skyhawks were close with the Racers and lost 66-65 in overtime.

“I knew what I had to do,” Fuller said. “(Winning was) the only thing on my mind.”

Last season Fuller averaged 8.6 points per game and 6.6 rebounds per game.

Jackson had started 22-of-23 games last season and averaged 11.5 points per game and 5.8 rebounds per game.

Tansil believes the inside threat of Mitchell and Fuller can help her team.

Tansil said Fuller’s an undersized post and can get the job done.

Except for four games this season, either Fuller or Mitchell has been the leading scorer. And, except for two games, either Mitchell or Fuller was the leading Skyhawk rebounder.

Kevin Murphy may be reached at 581-7944 or at kjmurphy@eiu.edu.