Racers Drop Hard-Fought Affair With JSU

Saturday, January 9

CFSB Center

3 p.m.

Murray State

6-8 (2-1OVC)

Jacksonville State

7-9 (2-2OVC)

Jacksonville State

Murray State

Photo by: Donnie Paschall

1/9/2016 5:37:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

The Murray State women suffered their first loss of the OVC season Saturday as the Racers fell to Jacksonville State, 74-71 in a hard-fought contest at the CFSB Center. The loss drops MSU to 2-1 in the league and 6-8 overall.

The Gamecocks (7-9, 2-2 OVC) were able to grab a few key offensive rebounds down the stretch on Saturday and although JSU only out-rebounded the Racers by two (38-36), JSU held a 14-5 edge on second-chance points in the game. The Gamecocks also outscored the Racers 28-18 in paint points and had a couple of huge performances off the bench, outscoring MSU 33-6 in bench points.

The Racers trailed by one, 15-14 after the first quarter and had a one point edge at halftime, 30-29. After a solid third quarter, MSU took a two-point lead into the final period, 51-49. JSU had a solid fourth quarter shooting the ball, going 10-of-18 from the floor and hitting a pair of 3-pointers in the period. JSU was 7-of-18 (39 percent) from 3-point range in the game while the Racers went 8-for-21 (38 percent) from beyond the arc.

Both teams had decent nights shooting from the floor as MSU shot 43.9 percent (25-for-57) and the Gamecocks made 27 of their 63 shots for 42.9 percent. Struggles at the free-throw line also cost MSU in the loss as the Racers went 13-for-19 (62 percent) from the charity stripe. JSU wasn't much better, going 13-for-19, but missed its last four attempts of the game. The Gamecocks forced the Racers into 12 turnovers and scored 13 points off of turnovers. JSU only committed seven turnovers of its own, holding the Racers to just four points off of turnovers.

The contest was close throughout as MSU's biggest lead was just four points, early in the third quarter. JSU led by as many as seven a couple of times in the fourth period. LeAsia Wright's game-tying 3-point attempt with four seconds left just missed as the Gamecocks were able to hang on for the win. JSU's Tyler Phelion missed a pair at the free-throw line with nine seconds left and the Gamecocks leading 74-71. Phelion was able to give JSU a three-point lead with 16 seconds left after an offensive rebound and put back.

Ke'Shunan James led all scorers with 26 points in the loss. James also added eight rebounds and four assists. Wright had 18 points and Jashae Lee added 12 points and eight boards on the night. Ajee Smith led the way with seven assists. In her last three games, Smith has 23 assists.

The Racers will now play on the road their next three games, beginning Jan. 14 at Belmont. Tip-off is set for 5 p.m. MSU will also face Tennessee State on the road next week.