Scorching Second Half Leads SIUE Past Women’s Basketball

Monday, February 18

Edwardsville, Ill.

7 p.m.

Murray State

15-10, 7-6OVC

SIU Edwardsville

13-13, 7-7OVC

Murray St.

SIU Edwardsville

Photo by: Bill Brinson/SIUE Athletics

Scorching Second Half Leads SIUE Past Women’s Basketball

2/18/2013 9:08:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

| Box Score (PDF) | Season Stats (PDF)

The Murray State women's basketball ran into a red-hot SIU Edwardsville team on Monday night that shot 66.7 percent and scored 55 points in the second half to top the Racers, 79-68, at the Vadalabene Center in Edwardsville, Ill.

The Racers (15-10, 7-6) came ready to play in the first with Tessa Elkins scoring the first eight points for MSU and giving them the early lead. The Cougars (13-13, 7-7) chipped away at the lead for the rest of the half, but it was Murray State that took a 30-24 lead into the locker room at the break.

In the second half, SIU Edwardsville, quite simply couldn't miss. The Cougars opened up the frame on a 12-2 run and never looked back.

Late in the half, the Racers were able to cut the lead to just five with 5:19 to play thanks in part to three big 3-pointers from junior Keiona Kirby. However, SIU Edwardsville sealed the win after a timeout by going on a 10-1 run that took away any momentum that MSU had built.

Elkins led all scorers in the contest with 17 points, while Kirby and freshman Erika Sisk followed with 15 and 14, respectively. Sisk also led MSU on the boards with eight, while Jessica Winfrey and Mariah Robinson followed with six each.

The Cougars' Raven Berry notched yet another double-double of 14 points and 11 boards to lead all rebounders in the game. Jazmin Hill led four SIUE players in double-digits with a team-high 15 points.

The Racers will return home on Saturday to kick-off a big day for Murray State basketball. The women will open the day by taking on rivals UT Martin at 2 p.m. After the women's game will be the dedication of the new Gene W. Ray Center at 4 p.m., with an open house of the new practice facility to follow at 4:30 p.m. The day will be capped off by the men taking on South Dakota State as part of the Ramada Worldwide BracketBusters on ESPN2 at 7 p.m.