Racers Drop OVC Opener at EKU

Monday, December 30

Richmond, Ky.

6 p.m.

Murray State

7-6, 0-1OVC

Eastern Kentucky

7-5, 1-0OVC

Murray State

Eastern Kentucky

12/30/2013 8:11:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

| Box Score (PDF) | Season Stats (PDF)

The Murray State women's basketball team dropped its 2013-14 OVC opener to Eastern Kentucky, 86-72, Monday night at Alumni Coliseum in Richmond.

The Lady Colonels (7-5, 1-0) controlled the tempo for the majority of the contest and led by as many as nine in the first half. Murray State (7-6, 0-1) cut the lead to just six in the final minutes of the opening stanza, but could not get any closer and trailed by eight at the break, 46-38.

Murray State did not shoot poorly in the opening half, finishing at 37.1 percent, but it could not match the 53.1 percent performance by Eastern Kentucky. The Racers, however, were able to keep it close in the first by going 7-for-8 at the free throw line, compared to 8-for-12 by EKU.

If free throws kept Murray State in the game in the first half, then it was second half free throws that helped seal the win for the Lady Colonels. Eastern Kentucky went 18-for-20 from the charity stripe in the second half including scoring 10 of its first 12 point in the frame at the line. The Racers, by comparison, fell off in the latter half, only shooting 50 percent at 8-for-16.

Despite the free throw woes, the Racers cut the lead to just two at 65-63 with 10:29 to play, after trailing by as many as 12 in the to open the second. However, the Lady Colonels then went on a 16-4 run over the next 6:09 that led to the 14-point loss for MSU.

Keiona Kirby led four Racers in double-digits with a team-high 21 points, while Jessica Winfrey pulled down her second consecutive double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Nikia Edom and Taylor Porter rounded out the double-digit Racers with 12 and 10, respectively.

Marie Carpenter led all scorers in the game with 23 points. Carpenter and Shelly Harper, who had 15 points, led the EKU free throw barrage by going 12-for-13 and 9-for-10, respectively. Michaela Hunter had a double-double for the Lady Colonels of 13 points and 10 boards, while Pilar Walker added 10.

The Racers will now return home to The Bank for a three-game stretch. Murray State will kick-off the home stand Saturday when its hosts OVC West rival UT Martin at 7 p.m. On Monday, the Racers will take on Southeast Missouri at 7 p.m., before they close out three games in Murray with Austin Peay Dec. 11 at 5:15 p.m.