Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
12-17
Eastern Kentucky
18-11
Racers Fall to EKU in OVC Semis
3/4/2016 2:12:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Murray State women's run through the OVC Tournament ended Friday with a 63-52 semifinal loss to Eastern Kentucky at Municipal Auditorium in Nashville.
The Racers (12-17) failed to get into any sort of rhythm for most of the game as EKU (18-11) led from start to finish in the contest. MSU shot just 28.3 percent from the floor and was 7-of-26 from 3-point range in the loss. The Racers were also held to just 21 points in the first half.
MSU was able to keep it close throughout the first half and trailed by only a possession or two much of the way after the Colonels opened the game on an 11-2 run and despite scoring just nine points in the second period. The Racers trailed 27-21 at the half.
The second half started much like the beginning of the game as EKU stormed out of the break and built a 12-point lead, 32-21 with 7:39 left to go in the period. After back-to-back 3-pointers from Kyra Gulledge and Bianca Babic cut the MSU deficit to 32-29, EKU again went on a run and built its lead back up to double digits. A three-point deficit was as close as the Racers would get in the final two quarters as the Colonels led by 10 points or more much of the second half.
The Colonels shot an even 50 percent from the floor in the second half and hit a pair of shots from beyond the arc after shooting just 31.3 percent in the first two periods and going 2-of-7 from deep.
Bianca Babic led the way offensively for the Racers in her final career game with 13 points and three 3-pointers. James added 11 in the loss while Jasmine Borders chipped in with 10. Jashae Lee had seven points and six boards in her final game for the blue and gold.
For the game, MSU was outscored 30-16 in the paint. However, the Racers had a 9-4 edge in fast break points and the Racers' bench poured in 23 points while the EKU reserves had just eight. The Colonels controlled the glass in the contest with a 44-37 edge, but both teams had 10 offensive rebounds and each scored seven second-chance points.
