MSU Comes Up Short in Back-and-Forth Battle

Wednesday, January 20

Richmond, Ky.

6 p.m.

Murray State

6-11 (2-4OVC)

Eastern Kentucky

10-7 (4-2OVC)

Murray State

Eastern Kentucky

1/20/2016 8:30:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

In a back-and-forth affair with Eastern Kentucky on Wednesday, the Murray State women's basketball team came up short as the Racers fell to the Colonels at McBrayer Arena, 72-60. The game featured four ties and 15 lead changes, all of which came in the first three quarters.

MSU (6-11, 2-4 OVC) led at the break 33-32 behind some strong shooting from behind the arc and good ball movement. However, the Colonels (10-7, 4-2 OVC) came out of halftime stronger and outscored the Racers 21-16 in the third and 19-11 in the fourth period. MSU went the final 4:07 of the contest without a made field goal.

For the game, MSU shot 23-for-70 (33 percent) and went just 3-of-17 (17.6 percent) in the fourth quarter. EKU shot 44.4 percent overall for the game and 50 percent in the second half of play. The Racers also struggled at the free-throw line, going just 9-for-18 at the stripe. MSU also shot just 18 percent (5-for-28) from 3-point range.

LeAsia Wright and Ke'Shunan James led the Racers offensively with 17 and 16 points, respectively, while also leading the team with seven and six boards, respectively as well. Daniella Pisano dished-out a team-best four assists in the loss

EKU controlled the glass in the contest, holding a 52-35 rebounding margin. However, the Colonels had just a 19-18 lead on second-chance points. EKU held a 36-30 margin in points in the paint while the Racers had an 8-2 edge in fast break points and outscored the Eastern Kentucky bench 28-16. MSU also forced the Colonels into 18 turnovers while committing just nine of its own.

The Racers return home after a three-game road trip as they host SIU Edwardsville at 5 p.m. Saturday at the CFSB Center.