Racers Win OT Thriller at EIU

Wednesday, February 17

Charleston, Ill.

6 p.m.

Murray State

11-14, 7-7OVC

Eastern Illinois

3-22, 2-11OVC

OT 1

Murray State

Eastern Illinois

2/17/2016 8:12:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

The Murray State women's basketball team hung on for a thrilling 74-71 overtime victory on the road over Eastern Illinois Wednesday night at Lantz Arena. The win gives MSU its fourth consecutive victory and evens its mark to 7-7 in OVC play.

An Erica Brown putback with three seconds left in regulation tied the game at 67-67 and a Ke'Shunan James corner 3-pointer to beat the buzzer just missed as the Racers went to their first overtime game since January of 2015 at Jacksonville State.

EIU (3-22, 2-11 OVC) scored the first points in the extra frame before the Racers were able to go in front on back-to-back layups from LeAsia Wright and James. After the Panthers tied the game at 71-71, a pair of Abria Gulledge free throws put MSU back in front for the rest of the game. Gulledge was able to get a big steal on EIU's second-to-last possession with 11 seconds to play and a free throw from James pushed the MSU lead to 74-71. EIU failed to get a shot off in the final nine seconds as the Racers played a great final defensive possession.

MSU (11-14, 7-7 OVC) got off to a sluggish start to the game, scoring just 10 first quarter points and trailed at the half, 34-34. However, the Racers came out much stronger in the second half, especially from long range and outscored the Panthers 20-10 in the third period.

The Racers were able to build their biggest lead of the night to eight points, 54-46 with 8:52 left to play and also led by seven with 6:07 left in the game before the Panthers were able to cut into the lead and eventually force overtime.

Despite EIU shooting better from the floor in the contest, 41 percent to 38 percent, and outscoring the Racers in the paint 32-16, MSU made its bones in this win from 3-point range and at the free-throw line. The Racers went 12-for-25 (48 percent) from beyond the arc in the win and made 14 free throws. EIU went 7-of-7 (41.2 percent) from deep and was just 4-of-10 from the line.

James led four Racers in double figures with a game-high 24 points in the win and also added eight rebounds and four assists. LeAsia Wright added 17 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals and hit four 3-pointers. Abria Gulledge added 14 and Jasmine Borders scored 12 while both hitting a trio of 3-pointers each. Kyra Gulledge grabbed a team-high nine rebounds and had a pair of blocks on the night.

MSU returns to action Saturday and will play its final road game of the season as the Racers travel to Clarksville, Tenn., for a 4 p.m. contest with Austin Peay.