Racers Edged by SIU Edwardsville

Thursday, February 12

CFSB Center

5 p.m.

Murray State

7-18 (2-10OVC)

SIU Edwardsville

15-10 (10-2OVC)

SIUE

Murray State

Photo by: Neal Head

2/12/2015 7:22:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Murray State women's basketball team was edged by SIU Edwardsville 78-69 at the CFSB Center, Thursday. This is only the second time the Cougars have defeated Murray State at the Bank. MSU knocked down 13 from behind-the-arc for the most three's made since Nov. 18 against Blackburn.

The Racers (7-18, 2-10 OVC) came into game with a fight to get another conference win. SIU Edwardsville (15-10, 10-2 OVC) wanted to maintain their second place spot in the conference, behind undefeated UT Martin. It looked like the Cougars would take control of the game when they were up 19-11 during the first half, but the Racers would not let them get away. MSU knocked down seven three-pointers in the first half to help close the gap. The Racers ended the first half with Keiona Kirby hitting a three-pointer, drawing a foul and sinking one from the charity stripe with 5.1 seconds left for a 34-34 score. MSU had only been tied at the half one other time against Tennessee Tech earlier this season.

It was a battle of buckets in the second half, as both teams tried to put another one in the win column. The Cougars got shots to fall and maintained an eight point lead for most of the second half. With 8:46 left to play the Racers trailed 60-52. Murray State found openings and made shots, but were unable to stop the Cougars on defense. With five minutes left in the game, the Racers trailed 71-60 and needed to get some stops in order to defeat the Cougars. Murray State was able to force turnovers within the last couple of minutes, but that wasn't enough as SIUE won 78-69.

LeAsia Wright led the Racer offense with 18 points, which ties her career-high for the third time. She had some help on offense from Kirby and Ke'Shunan James adding 16 and 12, respectively. James and Netanya Jackson grabbed six boards each for a team-high. Wright's six field goals made tied her career-high, while her four three-point field goals made now stand as her new career-high. MSU knocked down 13 from behind-the-arc which is the most three's made since facing Blackburn on Nov. 16.

"Our team struggled to get defensive rebounds, and they [SIU Edwardsville] were able to score second chance points," said head coach Rob Cross, "that was the ball game".

When looking forward to the game Saturday against Southeast Missouri, Cross said, "We have to get this and move on. We just played them so we all should be familiar with the way they play."

Murray State will travel to Cape Girardeau, Missouri to face Southeast Missouri Saturday at 3:30 p.m.